Chicago Area Hospitals Reporting Blood Shortage

(CBS) -- Chicago-area hospitals are reporting a blood shortage going into the holiday weekend.

It's a pretty serious situation, one expert tells WBBM's Mike Krauser

"Our hospitals are telling us they are seeing an increased need for blood due to trauma emergencies and increased needs for surgeries," Heartland Blood Centers director of donor recruitment, Amy Smith said.

Heartland supplies 71 hospitals in the area, Smith said, including five Level 1 trauma centers.

There is a need for O negative, O positive, A negative and B negative blood.

For more information on how to donate, click here or call 1-800-7TO-GIVE.