During the American Red Cross’s “Liver Awareness Month” this October, the group says they encourage eligible donors to give blood and platelets to support liver transplant patients and others needing blood products.

Liver transplants are the second most common type of transplant with more than 6,000 performed in the U.S. each year. Liver transplant patients may require in excess of 30 pints of blood during surgery, according to the Red Cross.

Volunteer donors are the only source of blood for those in need of transfusions during transplants and other surgeries, according to the Red Cross. Donors with all blood types are needed, and especially those with types O negative, A negative, B negative and AB blood.

To make an appointment to donate blood, eligible donors are can download the new Red Cross Blood Donor App from app stores or text BLOODAPP to 90999 to receive a download link, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-733-2767.

Red Cross blood drives in St. Lawrence County in October include:

• Canton - Oct. 1, 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., St Lawrence University, 23 Romoda Drive; Oct. 13, 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Unitarian Universalist Church, 3 1/2 East Main St.

• Norwood - Oct. 8, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Seaway Technical Center BOCES, 7225 State Highway 56

• DeKalb Junction - Oct. 10, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., DeKalb Junction Fire Department, 4323 U.S. Highway 11

• Massena - Oct. 12, 1 to 5 p.m., VFW Massena, 101 West Hatfield St.

• Gouverneur - Oct. 13, 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Gouverneur Hospital, 77 West Barney St.