The Oklahoma Blood Institute has declared a blood emergency because of a statewide blood shortage.
The Oklahoman reports that the institute declared the emergency on Monday as the state's supply of donated blood fell below the amount needed for an average day. It is encouraging donors to give blood this month to help reverse the shortage.
OBI spokeswoman Leslie Gamble says that in the past two weeks, OBI has seen a 20 percent decrease in the number of blood donations made, which is about 100 to 140 fewer donors. The number of donors this month also is lower than recent years.
Gamble says the state needs about 600 to 700 donors each day but that in the past fewer people give blood in between Christmas and New Year's Day.
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