In the wake of a severe blood and platelet shortage, the Red Cross has issued an emergency call for donations this summer.
The Red Cross says donations have been scarce the past two months: down 61,000 donations nationwide.
"Here in the Penn-Jersey Blood Services Region, we are down approximately 1,200 donations from what we need to meet our patient demand," Communications Manager Alana Mauger said.
Summer months are among the most challenging for blood donation centers with schools and colleges out for the summer and many regular donors taking vacation.
"And we’re really trying to get the word out that while you may take a vacation, the need for blood doesn’t," she said.
The Red Cross is ramping up blood drives locally and nationwide to meet demand.
The Blood Bank of Delmarva is also in need of donations of all blood types, but especially O Negative, the universal blood type.
"Last year at this time, there was a critical nationwide shortage of blood and many blood centers along the east coast are currently issuing an emergency appeal. This year, we’re doing all we can to alleviate a similar situation. We’re open during our normal business hours at all of our donor centers to make it as convenient as possible for people to donate,” Director of Community Relations said in a release.
The Blood Bank is in the middle of its Summer Blood Challenge. It runs through Sept. 23.