Red Cross makes emergency appeal for blood

FARMINGTON, Conn. (AP) — The American Red Cross has issued an emergency appeal for blood donations, saying the supply in Connecticut is very low.

The organization says it received 50,000 fewer donations than expected in June and currently has about half the readily available blood products on hand now than at the same time last year.

The organization says it needs all blood types are needed, but especially O positive, O negative, B negative and A negative in order to meet the summer demand.

The Connecticut Region is seeking to collect 5,000 blood donations over the next two weeks.