Area hospitals are running low on blood supplies. The Community Blood Center has declared its first blood emergency of the year. The shortage is due to several factors, including cold and flu season, a high number of lapsed blood donors and a decrease in young and first-time donors. The number of blood donations still are not back to pre-pandemic levels. Officials say the need is constant, but the supply is not. Those wishing to help should visit save a life now dot org to schedule an appointment to donate, the blood center provides more than 90% of the blood used by area hospitals.
