American Red Cross asks for donations in wake of holiday blood shortage

ROANOKE, Va. – The American Red Cross is asking for donations after a blood shortage caused by the holiday weekend, deemed a "blood emergency." 

The organization says it has less than a three-day supply of most blood types available after a "difficult" week, when fewer than normal blood drives were organized due to the holiday, compounding a shortfall of more than 24,000 blood donations last month. 

The Red Cross is asking anyone who is able to donate blood or platelets to make an appointment online.