The American Red Cross is asking for help with an immediate need for blood donations.

For only the second time in the 145-year history of the Red Cross, the nation’s largest single provider of blood products has declared a national blood crisis, according to a news release Monday.

Blood donations typically slow down during the summer months because of travel and other summer activities, according to Red Cross spokeswoman Heidi Richmond. But extreme heat across the U.S., poor air quality caused by widespread wildfires, and foodborne illnesses are causing an even lower donor turnout this summer.

“This summer has brought a number of unique challenges that have placed additional strain on our blood supply, creating growing concerns for hospitals and the patients who rely on lifesaving transfusions,” said Paul Sullivan, senior vice president of donor services for the Red Cross.

In Colorado, the wildfires currently ravaging the state have captured the public’s attention, “so a blood crisis might not seem as urgent as other crises,” Richmond said.

Thousands of people have answered the call to give since the crisis declaration, but donations are still not keeping up with hospital demand, officials said. All blood types are needed, but the supply of Type O has reached concerning levels. The supply of O-positive blood – the most commonly transfused blood type – has dropped below a national one-day supply.

“We are very close to a scenario where surgeries start getting canceled,” Richmond said. “When there isn’t enough blood in banks, surgery centers are forced to cancel surgeries.”

Colorado Springs-area residents who would like to donate can attend three nearby blood drives between now and Aug. 15:

• Pikes Peak Library 21c, 1175 Chapel Hills Drive, Colorado Springs — July 28 and Aug. 11, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Meridian Ranch Recreation Center, 10301 Angeles Road, Peyton — July 31, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• American Red Cross of Southern Colorado, 1040 S. 8th St., Colorado Springs — Aug. 6, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“We are hoping to add just three more donors to each drive this month,” Richmond said. “If you and two friends show up to a drive, that can help stabilize our blood supply.”

Prospective donors can also book an appointment by using the Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Anyone who gives by the end of July will receive a Fandango movie ticket worth up to $15. Anyone who donates in the month of August will receive a $20 Amazon gift card by email, the release stated.

Someone in the U.S. needs blood every two seconds, Richmond said.

“A blood shortage impacts the entire community in ways that many people might not realize,” she said.

“Trauma victims, cancer patients, people undergoing major or minor surgery, sickle cell patients, mothers going through childbirth. All of those folks rely on donated blood. You hope it’s never you or someone you love. But it could be.”