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ST. LOUIS, MO. -- The following is a press release from the American Red Cross:

The sun is beating down on us, the thermometer is stuck at extremely high temperatures and there’s not a breath of fresh air.  Extreme heat is here!

The American Red Cross would like to remind potential blood donors that regardless of soaring temperatures, area patients still need blood products to receive the treatments they need.

The blood supply typically declines during the summer months due to travel schedules and the closure of schools and colleges—the source of 20 percent of blood donations.  The extreme heat is now also contributing to declining blood donations.  Bottom of Form

We want you to know the air conditioning is on at American Red Cross blood donation centers and blood drives throughout the region. So make plans to escape the heat by scheduling your blood donation appointment today, and help save a life!  Remember to drink plenty of fluids before donating.

Please call 1-800-RED CROSS or got o redcrossblood.org to schedule an appointment to donate.

How to Donate Blood:

Simply call 1-800-RED CROSS (773-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to make an appointment today. All blood types are needed to ensure the Red Cross maintains an adequate blood supply. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Donors must be in general good health, weigh at least 110 pounds and be at least 17 years old (16 in Missouri with completed Parental Consent Form). New height and weight restrictions apply to donors younger than 19. Visit redcrossblood.org to learn more.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.