"We're calling the situation critical," Brad Fisher, a spokesman for DCH Regional Medical Center said Monday.

Meanwhile, Dr. Louie Katz, president of America's Blood Centers, said that although the supply normally drops at Christmas, the decline was surprisingly strong in the South.

"This is worrisome," said Katz, whose group represents organizations that collect about half the nation's blood donations.

"I just haven't seen that disparity," he said. "It's much worse than last week."

Fisher said DCH regional was down to 32 units of O negative and positive blood, types that are usually in greatest demand and often are used for trauma. The hospital likes to keep 105 units of those blood types on hand, Fisher said.

The hospital is posting updates of its blood supply so doctors can schedule elective surgery accordingly, he said. Last week, at least one doctor was asked to delay an elective operation that could have required large transfusions, Fisher said.

A doctor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham said the medical center had a sufficient supply of blood for the time being, but there were concerns.

"We're holding steady," said Dr. Marisa Marques, who runs the medical center's blood bank. She said a big trauma case could change that, and the dangerous New Year's weekend is approaching.

"One victim could cause us to get into a critical situation," she said.

Katz said five of the South's 21 centers affiliated with his organization reported that they had less than a day's supply of blood on hand.