Photo by Niamh Coomey Rosemary Tucker has been donating blood for fifteen years and said she hopes to continue well into her 90’s.

WHEELING — The American Red Cross’ two-day annual Ohio Valley Media Day Blood Drive started strong on Monday, but is in need of many more donors.

According to Sharon Kesselring, executive director of the American Red Cross of the Ohio River Valley, the drive held at Wheeling Island Casino and Racetrack had a steady start for the first couple hours of the first day, but donations slowed down in the afternoon. Drive staff stopped seeing as many donors waiting in line midday as they normally see at that point in the drive, she said.

Due to severe winter weather conditions, many blood drives have had to be canceled, seriously reducing the blood supply. Additionally recent events, namely the wildfires in Los Angeles, mean donations are even more crucial right now, Kesselring said.

“We are very concerned about the state of the blood supply in addition to the weather and illness, we’ve also had these disasters that have taken place that are causing us to lose blood drives in those areas too,” Kesselring said.

It is recommended that donors make an appointment, but they can walk-in as well. Either way, donors should carve out an hour of their day for the donation process, Kesselring said.

Everyone coming to the drive is required to go through the casino’s security and bring a valid photo ID. This drive is only open to those 21 and over due to its location at the casino, but anyone over the age of 17 can donate blood to the Red Cross and is encouraged to do so at other drives, Kesselring said.

Everyone who donates blood at the Media Day Drive is automatically entered to win transportation, hotel accommodations and tickets to the Super Bowl, as well as access to the NFL’s Super Bowl Experience. Donors will also receive a free t-shirt as supplies last.

Appointments are available and encouraged for Tuesday, the second and final day of the drive.

There are appointments available from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Donors can register for an appointment by visiting redcrossblood.org, using the Red Cross blood donor app, or calling 1-800-RED-CROSS.

“We need to make sure that we are as loyal to being blood donors as possible,” Kesselring said. “Please consider making a blood donation.”