The South African National Blood Service's Gail Nothard says they ideally need up to a week's supply at their disposal.
Donations of blood type O - which clinics use in emergency cases - are urgently required. Stocks of blood type B are also running critically low.
Nothard says the recent heavy rains meant less supply for them, as many donors opted to stay indoors.
She says they're concerned the situation will worsen as the school holidays and exams approach.
"In KZN we get 50 percent of our blood from schools and universities and we have lost our Matrics obviously, because they are now already writing their trials ... so our school donor base has been reduced, our varsities aren't available to us," she said.
Nothard's calling on anyone who can donate blood to take the time to do so.
"We have patients in hospital who have been waiting for blood since yesterday. Now, this could be a member of your family or someone that you know. So, I am appealing to the public to help us and make sure that these patients get the blood they need."
- East Coast Radio News
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