DEMOPOLIS &045; As is custom during the post-holiday season, blood centers all over the nation are sending out the cry for help to increase blood supplies. Next week, both the hospital and the high school will answer that call by holding emergency blood drives.

According to Rhonda Bert, donor recruitment specialist with United Blood Services, the holidays typically show a lack of donations, not only locally but also nationwide. In conjunction with the holidays, there are often more people traveling, which correlates with more accidents on the road. All of these factors combine to make blood bank levels low during this time of year.

On Monday, United Blood Services will be at Bryan W. Whitfield Memorial Hospital to collect donations from people with all blood types. Bert said they are particularly in need of donations from those with either O-negative or O-positive blood.

Chrissy Brooker, director of Public Relations and Marketing for BWWMH, said it is typical for this to happen during this time of year.

With each donation, a person can expect to provide blood for up to three people. Furthermore, research shows an estimated 60 percent of the population will need blood or blood components sometime during their lives.

The drive at BWWMH will be held on Monday, Jan. 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the hospital classroom.

Another emergency blood drive, sponsored by the JROTC, will be held at Demopolis High School on Tuesday, Jan. 22 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.