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We Are Blood in need of blood donations after 'recent series of accidents, violent crime' in Austin area

The shortage is coupled with bad weather and allergies, the agency says.

AUSTIN, Texas — A series of serious accidents and violent crime in the Austin area has led to a blood shortage at We Are Blood, according to the nonprofit.

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The community blood center said in a press release the shortage in blood donations is affecting patients in its 10-county service area.

Bad weather and allergies are also being blamed for keeping people away from its three donor centers on North Lamar, Round Rock and South Austin.

"All of those things have created a perfect storm where our blood donations have dipped and now we are calling on the community to come out and donate," the center told KVUE.

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The center is in need of O negative and O positive donors.

"Donating whole blood generally takes less than an hour and appointments can be made any day of the week," the nonprofit said.

The last time the agency issued a similar alert due to accidents and crime was in November 2018.

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