On Monday, the American Red Cross said in a press release that it is in the midst of an emergency blood shortage. In June, the American Red Cross declared in a press release, the blood supply fell nearly 25%.

While the Red Cross anticipates a shortage in blood during the summer months — usually because of increased injury and being unable to hold school blood drives — this has been the lowest blood supply the red cross has had during these months since 2015, said Nate Russell, the regional communications manager at the American Red Cross.

According to Russell, blood has a shelf life, and cannot be held in high supply. There needs to be a constant stream of donations so the Red Cross always has blood in reserve. Individuals can give blood up to six times a year, something strongly encouraged by the American Red Cross Association. However, of the population who is eligible to donate, only about 3% give blood.

“If we were to look at a Marshall stadium, which contains about 2,970 people, if all those people were people who could donate, only about 89 people actually do,” Russell said. “That would still be considered a successful day for us.”

That percentage blown to a national scale with millions of people means there’s always a constant need for blood, Russell said.

According to the Red Cross website, there are four blood drives coming up across Marshall this month: Friday, July 17, the Runnings at 901 North Highway 59 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Wednesday, July 22, the MERIT Center at 1001 Erie Road from noon-6 p.m.; Tuesday, July 28, the Avera Medical Center at 300 South Bruce Street from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and Friday, July 31, at the MERIT Center from noon-5 p.m.

Those interested in donating, or just seeing information about their blood type and past donations, can access it on The Red Cross Blood Donor App or at www.redcrossblood.org. The American Red Cross is currently holding a partnership with Fandango, a movie website, where anyone who signs up to give this month can receive up to a $15 movie deal, Russell said.