Red Cross issues urgent call for blood and platelet donors

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The American Red Cross is facing a shortage of all blood types, and asking for blood and platelet donations.

The Red Cross likes to have a five-day shelf supply of blood, but the busy summer schedule has led to a shortage.

It's estimated only about three out of every 100 eligible donors will give blood.

"This has kind of consistently tripped us up a little bit," said Justin Kern, Communications Director of the Wisconsin American Red Cross. "We're really encouraging those first time donors and those people that haven't donated in a while to come back and to make that easy gift, to give the gift of blood."

Right now all blood types are needed, but O blood types are needed the most.