Every summer, especially around this time, Chicago-area hospitals are in higher need of blood donors as victims of weekend violence pour into hospital trauma centers.

Donations slide going into the summer because many potential donors are out of town, and schools, which hold many of the blood drives, are out of session.

And while donations may be down, the need during the summer months spikes, as violence and cases of trauma spike when the weather gets warmer.

That leaves local blood banks trying to find ways to meet increasing blood need with dangerously low supplies.

Morning Shift checks in with Heartland Blood Centers.

GUEST: Matthew Queen, spokesman with Heartland Blood Centers