Hospitals in Indiana are in urgent need of two blood types, O negative and AB negative. The Red Cross is asking donors to give blood now to keep the blood supply strong this summer.
“We need donors of all blood types, especially those giving types of blood because type O is the universal blood group,” said Isis Chaverri, Red Cross regional communication director in Indiana. “It’s what emergency room personnel reach for when there is no time to determine the blood type of patients in the most serious situations.”
One in seven hospital patients will need a blood transfusion. To meet that demand, the Red Cross is encouraging general donors to donate.
Versiti Blood Center, one of the providers for hospitals in Indiana, says it needs 376 red blood donations in central Indiana this week.
Briana Spicer, agent of the donor response team at Versiti, said that it has only 28 units of O negative blood type on the shelf. “And then, also we are in desperate need of AB negative, which is the rarest blood type,” she said.
According to the Red Cross, summer fun and severe summer weather can have a sudden impact on the ability to collect blood. Staff are urging donors to schedule appointments to ensure blood products for this month.
“Eligible donors can feel good knowing that by donating to the Red Cross, they may be helping patients not only in their community, but also in communities across the country,” Chaverri said.
In Bloomington, the Red Cross is organizing six blood donation drives in July. Donors can make appointments prior to arriving at a donation site by visiting redcrossblood.org.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities in Monroe and Brown County:
Bloomington
- 7/9/2025: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Ivy Tech, C130 a and B, 200 Daniels Way
- 7/10/2025: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Ivy Tech, C130 a and B, 200 Daniels Way
- 7/18/2025: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Bloomington Community RSMO, 401 North Morton Street
- 7/24/2025: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Sherwood Oaks Christian Church, 2700 E. Rogers Road
- 7/25/2025: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Bloomington Community RSMO, 401 North Morton Street
- 7/30/2025: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Bloomington Community RSMO, 401 North Morton Street
Nashville
- 7/18/2025: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Brown County YMCA, 105 Willow Street
- 7/22/2025: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Parkview Church of the Nazarene, 1750 East State Road 46
