Bay Area blood donation drought worsens

By Bay City News 

The American Red Cross plans to hold blood drives throughout the Bay Area this week as a regional blood drought worsens.
As of Friday morning, the Red Cross had 101 pints of O positive blood on its shelves. On a typical day, local hospitals request 277 pints for patients, according to the Red Cross.
Just six pints of blood were collected in six hours at a Moraga blood drive on Thursday. Red Cross officials had hoped to collect more than 40 pints.
Only 15 donors gave blood at a recent drive at the Oakland Airport, and a blood drive organized for Bay Area transit agency employees yielded a mere six pints.
Blood drives are scheduled next week as far north as Crockett, as far east as Livermore and as far south as Salinas.

The Red Cross urges the public to call (800) 448-3543 or online to http://www.BeADonor. com to find out dates and locations.