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Snow Storms Drive Down Blood Donations

BOSTON (CBS) -- The need for blood donations in Massachusetts is at a critical level the Red Cross says.

It held a blood drive Saturday at the TD Garden. The drive, sponsored by the Celtics, Bruins and Bob's Furniture, brought in more than 1,000 people.

From that, the Red Cross was able to get 715 units.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Kim Tunnicliffe reports.

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But that's still less than the number of donations the Red Cross has lost this month.

"In Massachusetts we have seen 1,800 fewer blood donations in the month of January. So it is a large number," said Red Cross spokeswoman Donna Morrissey. "We need to make up the shortfall in the next couple of weeks."

She added the organization hasn't see such decrease in more than a decade.

All blood types, particularly O negative, the universal blood type, which can be given to any patient, is requested.

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