During National Wellness Month, the American Red Cross encourages people to prioritize their personal health and well-being while helping to save lives with a blood or platelet donation.

Donors of all blood types, especially those with type O positive or B negative blood, are asked to make an appointment now to prevent a further drop in donor turnout.

In August, the Red Cross will provide free A1C screening, a test commonly used to screen for prediabetes and diabetes, for all donors who make a successful blood, platelet or plasma donation. Fasting is not required for this test, and donors will be able to view their confidential results one to two weeks after their donation in the Blood Donor App or their donor account at RedCrossBlood.org. Donors will receive one A1C test result in a 12-month period.

August also brings changes in routines. Back-to-school plans, the start of fall sports and final summer vacations may be top of mind right now, but patients can’t wait. Making and keeping donation appointments can be the difference in a patient’s treatment journey.

Schedule a time to give by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App. Those who give before Aug. 28 will receive a $15 e-gift card to a merchant of their choice. For details on both offers, visit RedCrossBlood.org/Test.

Upcoming blood donation events are as follows:

Nashua

Aug. 22: Noon – 4:30 p.m., St. Joseph the Worker Parish, 777 West Hollis St.

Aug. 26: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., City Hall, 229 Main St.

Aug. 28: Noon – 5 p.m., Nashua Elks Lodge, 12 Murphy Dr., Unit B-1

Aug. 30: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Westwood Park YMCA, 90 Northwest Blvd.

Aug. 30: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Nashua Center For The Arts, 18 Simon St.

Hudson

Aug. 16: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., VFW Hudson Memorial Post 5791, 15 Bockes Rd.

Merrimack

Aug. 28: Noon – 5 p.m., Our Lady of Mercy Parish, 16 Baboosic Lake Rd.

Milford

Aug. 29: 12:30 p.m. – 5 p.m., Milford Masonic Temple, 30 Mont Vernon St.