(NBC News) – Blood banks nationwide are in a precarious position this January, National Blood Donor Month.
“We have about a two day supply right now,” says Dr. Claudia Cohn, Chief Medical Officer of the Association of American Blood Banks.
Between the holidays and inclement weather winter is typically a tough season. Now it’s compounded by the pandemic.
“We need everyone who can to go out and donate a unit of blood,” Dr. Cohn says. “We know that we’re asking a lot because everyone is exhausted. But we need you to just dig deep.”
That’s especially true in some of the hardest-hit areas, like Southern California.