Red Cross needs donors, faces critical blood shortage

CLEVELAND — The American Red Cross Northern Ohio Blood Services Region is facing a critical shortage and has issued an appeal for blood and platelet donors.

The Northern Ohio Region said in its appeal that its supply of O negative blood is particularly low and it is also below the preferred three-day supply of B and A negative blood.

Red Cross officials said the reasons for the low blood supply are that many donors are busy or traveling, school is out of session, and donations in May and June dropped to the lowest levels the Red Cross has seen during this time frame in more than a dozen years.

For the complete story, read Thursday's Vindicator and Vindy.com