Vitalant blood bank supplies blood to hospitals in Western Pennsylvania through long-term contracts. Twenty-six hospitals in Pennsylvania work with Vitalant, including those in the Allegheny Health Network, UPMC, Butler Memorial Hospital and Grove City Medical Center.

Vitalant spokeswoman Kristen Lane said the bank needs 600 donors a day to keep up with regular transfusion needs.

She also said there is not enough blood waiting in hospitals to handle any large emergency.

“We're losing some of our long-term donors,” Lane said.

Baby boomers once were the largest group of donors. Now, many of them are transitioning from giving blood to needing blood. Lane said the need — particularly in Western Pennsylvania — is “desperate.”