The American Red Cross on Wednesday issued an urgent appeal for blood donations across Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont and Connecticut.

Hospital shipments are being cut by up to 50 percent because blood inventories have declined by 3,000 pints in September, said Donna M. Morrissey, spokeswoman for the American Red Cross Blood Services Northeast Division in Vermont.

“This shortfall comes on the heels of a comparable decline in donations in August. Currently we are unable to meet most hospital standing orders,” she said.

At present, the Northeast Division has less than a day’s supply for most blood types, Morrissey said.

At least 2,000 units of blood must be collected each day to meet the basic needs of New England hospitals, she said.