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On July 24, the American Red Cross announced that they have seen a decline in blood donations this summer and are taking extra measures to get in front of the threat of a blood shortage.

The Red Cross is urgently soliciting willing donors for type O negative, O positive, and B negative blood donors, as well as platelet donors.

Blood and platelet donation can help ensure trauma patients, individuals undergoing cancer treatment, and people with lifelong blood disorders can get blood they need to live and function. For the recipients, availability of these resources is a matter of life and death.

To help with publicity on the matter, the Red Cross is teaming up with Warner Bros. for the upcoming release of the movie Meg 2: The Trench and offering all people who donate through July 24 to Aug. 12 the chance to win a 3-night getaway to New York. The trip will be for two people and feature a private shark dive adventure

Those who donate in August will get a $10 e-gift card to a movie vendor of their choice. Details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/Movie.

The goal of Red Cross with this marketing strategy is to celebrate sharks this summer and simultaneously make an effort to prevent a blood and platelet shortage.

There is one upcoming blood donation opportunity from Aug. 1-15: Cumberland County, Crossville, Aug. 8 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Crossville First United Methodist Church, 69 Neecham St.

Donors of all blood types can schedule an appointment to give by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

The Red Cross also anticipates that they will need more volunteers given the possibility of another active hurricane season approaching, and would like people to consider assisting where and when they can. More volunteer information can be found at redcross.org/volunteertoday.