By the American Red Cross

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – The American Red Cross is encouraging eligible donors to give blood during Liver Awareness Month this October.

According to the American Liver Foundation, more than 6,000 liver transplants are performed each year in the U.S., making it the second most common transplant. Liver transplant patients may require in excess of 30 pints of blood during surgery. Volunteer donors are the only source of blood for those in need of transfusions during surgery.

Donors with all blood types are currently needed, especially those with types O negative, A negative and B negative. All those who attempt to donate blood during October will be eligible to win a $5,000 Visa gift card courtesy of Suburban Propane.

Blood donation opportunities Oct. 1-15:

Charlotte, TN
10/11/2014: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Rock Springs Free Will Baptist, 1485 Hamble Road

Dickson, TN
10/9/2014: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Walnut Street Church of Christ, 201 Center Ave.

Clarksville, TN
10/4/2014: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., American Red Cross, 1760 Madison St.
10/6/2014: 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., American Red Cross, 1760 Madison St.
10/13/2014: 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., American Red Cross, 1760 Madison St.
10/13/2014: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Governor’s Square Mall, 2801 Wilma Rudolph Blvd.

Cadiz, KY
10/7/2014: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., St Stephen Catholic Church, 1698 Canton Road

To make an appointment to donate blood, eligible donors are encouraged to download the new Red Cross Blood Donor App from app stores, text BLOODAPP to 90999 to receive a download link, visit the Red Cross website, or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). More information on liver disease and ways to protect against it are available at here.

A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Follow Red Cross on Twitter at @RedCross.