June 25th, 2008

The American Red Cross has seen a decrease in blood donations as a result of soaring gas prices, reports The Daily Item.

“We’ve been falling short in our recent drives,” said Tom Szulanczyk, executive director of the Upper Northumberland County Chapter. “People make appointments and then don’t keep them.”

According to the report, “No-shows for blood donations and a shrinking supply of several blood types could be the setup for difficult times ahead this summer if a single disaster should occur in the region.”

While a decrease in blood donations is expected over the summer, this year has seen an above-average shortage of donations.