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Red Cross Says Blood Donors Urgently Needed as Supplies Dwindle

File photo: Keith Shortall
The Red Cross is seeking blood donors, saying its national supply is down to less than five days.

PORTLAND, Maine - The Red Cross is calling on all eligible donors to give blood to help alleviate a critical shortage in Maine and across the country.

Red Cross spokesperson Mary Brandt says July is always a difficult time for blood donation because regular donors tend to be on vacation. 

But Brandt says right now the need is urgent. "At this point, the Red Cross nationally - not just regionally but nationally - has a less-than-five-day blood supply on hand," Brandt says.

Brandt says people who are interested in donating blood should call 1-800-RED-CROSS; and if they're not sure whether they're eligible to give blood, they can talk to someone at that number as well.

The Red Cross says someone in the United States needs blood or platelets every 22 seconds. Brandt says the full process of giving blood takes about an hour.

Nora is originally from the Boston area but has lived in Chicago, Michigan, New York City and at the northern tip of New York state. Nora began working in public radio at Michigan Radio in Ann Arbor and has been an on-air host, a reporter, a digital editor, a producer, and, when they let her, played records.