The American Red Cross and blood donors have been busy the past few weeks.
Independence Township Fire Department hosted a blood drive Dec. 20 at their station off Citation Drive. Elizabeth Hawthorne, Miss Michigan Teen USA, earned more community service hours at the fire station, helping with registration and planning on donating blood for her first time. However, her iron count was one point low of donating standards.
‘I feel bad, even though I know it’s not my fault. But I can come back if I take vitamins and try again,? she said.
The American Red Cross, Independence Fire Department and the Clarkston Lions Club all work together for blood drives twice a year, once at the fire station and the other at the Senior Center before the fourth of July, said Mike Mersier from the Lions Club.
The Red Cross was also seen at the Clarkston Brandon Community Credit Union, north of I-75 off M-15 on Dec. 27. The credit union also holds blood drives twice a year, once in winter before the New Year and once in summer at the end of July.

What’s your blood type?

According to American Red Cross, O-type blood is greatly needed ? O-negative can be given to everyone, while O-positive can be given to 84 percent.
? About 40 percent of the population has A-blood type: 34 percent are A-positive and 6 percent are A-negative
? Only 11 percent of the population is type-B blood: about 9 percent are B-positive and 2 percent B-negative
? AB blood type makes up four percent of the population: about three percent are AB-postive and one percent AB-negative.
? 45 percent of the population are O blood type: 38 percent are O-positive and seven percent O-negative.