Johnson City, NY (WBNG Binghamton) - The American Red Cross is reporting a nationwide record low for blood donations.
The shortage is already starting to impact some area hospitals.
The American Red Cross says this is the lowest blood donations have been in more than a decade.
The critical shortage has led the organization to declare a national appeal for donors of all types.
"The levels haven't changed. We would hope when we go on a national appeal that donors would come out and we would see an increase in the blood supply we are still at one day supplies with several blood types," says Theresa Blank, Account Manager for the American Red Cross Blood Services.
Blank says they have also added emergency blood drives.
One local donor is doing her part to help out, she gives blood every fifty-six days.
"It's really a very good thing to do, it doesn't hurt, you feel like a little stick when they're drawing it but it's really nothing major. I've known people that have needed blood transfusions and this is one way to help," says Susan Cobb of Vestal.
Another local donor has given blood twenty-two times, saving more than sixty lives.
"One of my friends, her father had cancer and she told me her father always needed blood transfusions and so she said it helps for that kind of thing, and of course being O negative they use it for a lot of accidents and things like that," says Brian Clark of Binghamton.
Blank says it's the aging donor population that could be attributing to the low donations and she's encouraging younger generations to come out and donate.
Wilson Hospital says their blood level is a little lower than usual and they have had a harder time getting rare types of blood and platelet donations.
Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood, and now more than ever donors are needed to give their time.
More than 38- thousand blood donations are needed every day.
Tuesday, the American Red Cross Mobile Bus will be at the Price Chopper in Endicott for those available to donate.
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