Red Cross needs your blood donation now!

The Northern Ohio Blood Services Region of the American Red Cross is struggling to meet demand, beginning the week with six of the eight blood types below minimum inventory standards.

The Northern Region covers 19 counties, including Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull, and 57 area hospitals.

The region needs 900 volunteer blood donors daily to keep a minimum three-day supply of all eight blood types, said Victoria Rothacker, Red Cross spokeswoman.

About 38 percent of the population is eligible to give blood; but of those, only a small percentage actually donate. Unfortunately, though, every two seconds, someone needs blood, Rothacker added.

As of today, she said there was less than a half-day’s supply of types O Negative and B Negative and only four units of AB Negative available.

For the complete story, see Tuesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com.