August 9, 2023 3:00 a.m.

The American Red Cross- Cascades Region, has seen a shortfall of about 25,000 blood donations in the first two months of summer, making it hard to keep hospital shelves stocked with lifesaving blood products.

A Red Cross release said by making an appointment to give blood or platelets in August, donors can keep the national blood supply from falling to shortage levels.

Right now, the Red Cross especially needs type O negative, type O positive, type B negative and type A negative blood.

Schedule an appointment by downloading the Red Cross Donor App, go to: www.redcrossblood.org or by calling 1-800-red-cross.