Red Cross needs your blood right now

CLEVELAND — Critically low blood supplies has led the American Red Cross Northern Ohio Blood Services Region to issue an urgent appeal for blood donors.

The Northern Ohio Blood Services Region serves 19 counties, including Mahoning and Trumbull, and needs to collect about 900 units of blood a day to meet patient needs at 57 hospitals, officials said.

Because of low supplies, the Red Cross is unable to meet many blood orders for local hospitals in the timeliest manner. In some orders, particularly type O-negative, the Red Cross has put on back order and is filling only type O-negative orders for an immediate and specific need for a specific patient.

O-negative blood is always in high demand because it can be transfused to patients with any blood type, especially in emergency situations.

There also is need for all blood types. The Red Cross is asking eligible donors to make or keep appointments to give blood as soon as

possible. Call 800-733-2767 or visit www.redcrossblood.org online to schedule an appointment.