Blood supplies in New Jersey are running low, and officials are asking residents to help meet the need.

Blood donations usually drop during the summer months and this year is no different.

New Jersey Health Commissioner Mary O’Dowd is encouraging employers to have workplace blood drives.

 “Especially now in difficult economic times there’s fewer opportunities to recognize employees, and this is one of the ways that you can engage your employees in something that really helps individuals. A person who donates can save three lives in one day and really there’s no greater way to give back to your community than that.”

Dino DeStefano is the donor recruitment manager for the Community Blood Council of New Jersey. He says there’s now a shortage of type o-negative blood, but so far that has not forced hospitals to postpone any surgeries.

“There are problems where the hospitals are at need and what comes in goes right out to them to stock their shelves. You know even though there’s a 42 day shelf life on whole blood it doesn’t stay on the shelves for 42 days. We’re lucky if it’s on there for five days.”