Updated July 25, 2019

The American Red Cross now faces a blood shortage and has issued an emergency call for eligible individuals of all blood types to give now and prevent delays in medical care.

Next stop for the Red Cross Bloodmobile in Giles County is Monday at Second Street Church of Christ on North Second Street from 2 until 7 p.m.

About 450 fewer blood drives were organized by businesses and other community groups which led to about 17,000 fewer blood donations than needed for patients causing the Red Cross to now have less than a three-day supply of most blood types available and less than a two day supply of type O blood for patients.

According to Cliff  Numark, senior vice president of the Red Cross Services, patients depend on lifesaving blood transfusions every day and the Red Cross only has less than a three-day supply when we need a five-day supply to be prepared for all situations that require blood products.

In June, the Red Cross launched the missing types campaign especially new donors and those who have not donated in the past years to give blood or platelets during the challenging summer months.

Despite an encouraging response to the campaign, blood donations still fell short of expectations in June, resulting in more than 24,000 fewer donations than needed causing a significant draw down of the Red Cross blood supply.