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Red Cross Facing Emergency Blood Shortage In Maine

Bryan Jones
/
Flickr/Creative Commons

The American Red Cross is facing an emergency need for blood in Maine and across the nation.

“Right now the Red Cross has less than a 3-day supply of most blood types available, and less than a 2-day supply of type O blood,” says Mary Brant, spokesperson for the Red Cross in northern New England. "Blood donations are currently being distributed to hospitals faster than donations are coming in and more donations are needed now to help replenish the blood supply."

Bryant says the organization tries to keep a 5-day blood supply on hand.

“We cannot stockpile blood,” she says. “If you gave a blood donation today, that blood donation has a shelf life of 42 days.”

Brant says only 3 in 100 people in the U.S. donate blood, and more donors are needed right now. She says it’s not uncommon for there to be blood shortages during the summer. People can find out about where to donate by calling the Red Cross at 874-1192 or visiting their website.

Ed is a Maine native who spent his early childhood in Livermore Falls before moving to Farmington. He graduated from Mount Blue High School in 1970 before going to the University of Maine at Orono where he received his BA in speech in 1974 with a broadcast concentration. It was during that time that he first became involved with public broadcasting. He served as an intern for what was then called MPBN TV and also did volunteer work for MPBN Radio.