By Matt Sepic, KWMU
St. Louis – The American Red Cross in St. Louis has issued an emergency appeal for blood.
Blood donations are down more than a quarter compared to this time last year, and the agency is holding special blood drives beginning Monday and running through Sunday, Jan. 4.
Red Cross spokesman Jim Williams says the onslaught of influenza has kept many people from donating, and the usual holiday blood shortage is much worse than normal.
"The flu bug hit early this year, and that has crippled the blood supply," Williams said. "We're down 26-percent from this time last year as far as the number of donors. That boils down to 1,400 people."
For more information on giving blood, you can call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE, or visit www.americanredcrossblood.org.