Albany, NY – Desperate to boost the region's alarmingly low blood supply, the American Red Cross opened some of its blood donation centers Sunday.
A Red Cross spokeswoman says two centers in Western New York had a strong turnout, although the need is still urgent.
The last time the Red Cross made such a serious appeal was in 2000. The spokeswoman says donors came out in waves then. But she says donors seem reluctant this summer.
Blood supplies are so low that last week the organization had barely a day's supply of all blood types. A three-day supply is deemed enough to cover most emergencies.