Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette Christina Asiala, Aspirus’s U.P. regional director of laboratory services, holds vials of blood at the hospital Thursday. Local hospitals and blood centers are seeking blood donations to help during summer, a time of increased need and decreased donations.

HANCOCK — For local blood centers, the summer means a severe need and less chance of it being met.

With many people on vacation, there are fewer people donating. What they are doing is riding ATVs, mountain biking or other activities that could lead to accidents and a need for blood transfusions.

“It pretty much happens every year,” said Rachel Heath, coordinator of blood collections for the U.P. Regional Blood Center in Marquette. “Nationwide, there is just a blood shortage that’s kind of happening all over.”

Another reason for the lack of donors is a decline among younger generations, Heath said.

“We’ve just kind of got to figure out a way to get the younger generation to realize the need and importance to donate blood.”

Even for regular donors, there’s a gap. The blood is only good for 42 days, said Christina Asiala, U.P. regional director of laboratory services for Aspirus. But people can only donate every eight weeks.

At Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital, about 600 patients need some kind of blood product every year.

“One donation can go to three people,” Asiala said. “Still, we need over 200 donations to service just our hospital alone.”

The U.P. Regional Blood Center supplies blood for 13 hospitals, including Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital and UP Health System — Portage.

“If you donate with us, it will only supply local people — family, friends, neighbors,” Heath said.

Donating blood typically takes about half an hour. Donors get a small health screening and can also find out their blood type. The screening includes blood pressure, hemoglobin, temperature, pulse and a check for diseases.

“You might not know you have an irregular pulse,” Health said. “We can catch that.”

People can donate at the collection center in Hancock Monday through Friday. To schedule an appointment, call 483-1392.

People who donate at the Hancock Blood Center in August will get a free pint of frozen custard from Culver’s.

Businesses can also contact the Regional Blood Center to host blood drives inside or at the U.P. Regional Blood Mobile. To set up a blood drive, contact Heath at (906) 449-1450 or 1-800-491-4483 (GIVE).

Several blood drives are coming up in the area.

River Valley Bank will host two drives Tuesday — from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at its Houghton branch, and from 3 to 5 p.m. in Calumet.

Other drives will take place on Aug. 21 at GS Engineering in Houghton and Aug. 27 at UP Health System — Portage in Hancock.