The American Red Cross has said it urgently needs blood and platelet donors of all blood types.

Busy holiday schedules, winter weather and illness have led to a blood shortage that could affect patient care, a news release from the organization said.

Blood and platelet donations are being distributed to hospitals as fast as they come in.

With that in mind, Liberty Regional Medical Center will host a Red Cross blood drive from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26, according to Deborah Wells, training center coordinator at the hospital.

The Red Cross must collect more than 13,000 blood and platelet donations every day for patients at about 2,600 hospitals and transfusion centers nationwide.

You can make an appointment to give blood by downloading the Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS. Donors can save time by using RapidPass to begin their health history. For more information, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass.