HUDSON — The Hudson Police Department will be hosting a blood drive on Sept. 24 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Hudson Community Center, 12 Lions Ave.

While the blood supply continues to recover from an emergency shortage during the summer, a steady increase in lifesaving blood products is vital to ensuring hospitals are ready for any situation this fall.

The Police Department has set a goal of collecting more than 100 blood donations.

Every day, the American Red Cross must collect more than 13,000 blood donations to meet the needs of trauma patients and others with serious medical conditions across the country. One in every seven hospital patients will need a blood transfusion.

While all blood types are needed, type O negative donors are especially important. Because it is the universal blood type and can be transfused to patients of any blood type, type O negative is what emergency personnel reach for when there is no time to determine a patient’s blood type.

Those who attend the blood drive will receive a $15 e-gift card to a merchant of choice.

To make an appointment, visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter the sponsor keyword HUDSONCOMM. Residents can also download the Red Cross Blood Donor App or call 1-800-733-2767.

A blood donor card, driver’s license or two other forms of identification will be required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood.

Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. Instructions are available at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass.