Health officials warn of ‘critically low’ blood supply

LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) – Critical blood shortages are being reported around the country, and the American Red Cross has declared a severe shortage after the supply dropped 35% in the past month.

“We are currently in a blood emergency, which is the equivalent of approximately two days’ worth of blood on the area hospital shelves,” Linda Wienclaw, the account manager of the New York Blood Center, said. “It definitely impacts the treatment of patients that are coming in for emergency situations.”

It’s estimated that three in five people are eligible to donate blood, but only three in 100 people do.

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