Iowans busy with summer activities are slacking off on one obligation — donating blood Jenny Garner with the Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center says it’s typical. Donations decline in summertime, she confirms, as well as holidays. They’re busy with lots of activities, may be on vacation and the weather’s nice. She encourages people not to forget to come out and donate despite the distractions of the season. On the local level, she says the inventory’s been uncharacteristically low, and at times it’s meant the regional blood bank had to decline requests for help from other blood centers across the country. While she says there’s no danger of a local shortage, nationwide supplies of Type-O blood are low. Garner adds “Right now we are very low on O-Negative ourself.” With summer travel leading to highway accidents and other injuries from seasonal incidents, Garner points out that medical centers always have a need for donated blood. All types are needed, she says. “It’s twenty-four-seven, 365 days a year — blood just just doesn’t take a holiday.” To find out how, where and when you can give blood, phone 800-747-5401, or schedule an appointment on-line at bloodcenter-dot-org.