The Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) has issued an urgent appeal for people to donate blood.
The IBTS said supplies have fallen to a level that is only sufficient for three days.
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That is just under half the required level for an average week.
Dr Paul McKinney of the IBTS said current blood stocks are at a critically low level.
Dr McKinney said: "We are well short of where we need to be to ensure that we can continue to supply hospitals where blood demand has been very high for a sustained period.
"It is critical that we get our stocks back up."
