Officials are asking community members to donate blood after winter weather shut down many Chattanooga-area blood drives and donation centers, leaving the area's blood supply at a dangerously low level.
Max Winitz, a spokesperson for Blood Assurance, said in a phone interview that the blood supplier needs about 400 donors a day to maintain an adequate blood supply for the region — but only 113 blood donations took place Monday.
"That is a direct result of the blood drives being canceled and some of our donation centers not even being open because of the roads and weather," he said.
(READ MORE: Signal Mountain man who donated over 70 gallons of blood says 'life is precious')
Given much of the service area has experienced snow and ice, Winitz said the critical need for more donors is expected to continue throughout the week.
"Just across the board, we need every single blood type right now," he said. "We also really need platelets."
With the exception of its Tullahoma and Cookeville location, Blood Assurance — the sole supplier of blood and blood products to local hospitals in the greater Chattanooga area — reopened its donation centers Tuesday, according to Blood Assurance's website.
The American Red Cross of Tennessee also expressed need for blood Tuesday, writing in a social media post that weather was negatively affecting efforts to rebuild the blood supply.
"January is often a challenging time to maintain a sufficient blood supply," the post states. "Your blood or platelet donation can help ensure medical care for patients isn't threatened."
Contact Elizabeth Fite at efite@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6673.