The Champaign County Fair will host an American Red Cross blood drive during fair week.

An Emergency Need Blood Drive will be held 2-7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 8, at the fairgrounds during the 175th annual Champaign County Fair. Appointments are requested, but walk-ins are welcome. Donors will receive Cedar Point or Kings Island tickets.

The drive is needed for emergency donation since the blood supply tends to dwindle in the summer, American Red Cross External Communications Manager Rodney Wilson said.

“It is typical to see a blood shortage in the summer months due to several factors. Traumatic injuries increase in the summer because people are more active, which means the need for blood goes up,” he said. “At the same time, fewer people donate because they are traveling or are busy with summer activities.”

The Red Cross issued an emergency call for blood and platelets on July 5, with blood donations falling short of hospital needs over the past few months, according to a Red Cross press release. At that time, there were 39,000 fewer donations than what was needed, and there has been a “significant” draw-down of the overall Red Cross Blood supply.

“Currently, blood products are going out to hospitals as fast as they come in,” Wilson said.

Blood donations are needed daily for accident victims, cancer patients, people with blood disorders and those needing surgery, he said.

In Central Ohio, the Red Cross needs approximately 800 people to donate every day to support patients treated at 41 hospitals, he said.

The American Red Cross hosts blood drives daily across its 27-county service area, Wilson added. The goal is to schedule them regularly to keep the supply steady. The Champaign County Fair is a good choice for a blood drive, he said, due to the number of people attending.

For more information or to make an appointment, visit www.redcrossblood.org or call 800-RED-CROSS (800-733-2767).