Red Cross Calls On Bay Area Residents To Donate Blood

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) – Blood donations are down significantly this year in the Bay Area which has forced the American Red Cross to put out a call for help.

Officials are especially looking for four blood types: O+, O-, A- and B-, all of which are at critically low levels.

"The need for these four blood types are outpacing the donations that are coming in and the donors that are coming in," said Sara O'Brien with the Northern California Blood Services Region. "And that's creating this critical need for these blood types."

KCBS' Mark Seelig Reports:

O'Brien said O- is especially high in demand because while only seven percent of people have it, everyone can use it.

"Until the emergency room has time to have your blood typed if you come in from an accident, if you need blood, you're going to need type O-," she said.

O'Brien said that every year, it seems the number of their regular donors diminishes.

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