Northern Ohio urgently needs blood donors

About 12,000 transfusions will be needed this week at 57 local hospitals in northern Ohio and the American Red Cross is struggling to provide the blood.
Three blood types are at a half-day supply or less and two types are below minimum inventory standards. Patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatments need platelets, a component of blood. As of Tuesday, there was less than one day's supply of platelets.
People are urged to donate blood as soon as possible. Call (800) 448-3543 or visit www.RedCrossDonor.org. If you are interested in donating platelets, call (800) 356-3339. Donors must be at least 17, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health.
Those who register to donate blood now through Labor Day are automatically entered to win a two-year lease on a 2007 Dodge Dakota 4x2 Club Cab ST from Norris Megal Mall of Lodi. Six runners-up will each will receive a $500 gas card.