CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Blood Assurance says it's facing another critical shortage, this time, the supply of platelets is running dangerously low.

Officials say platelet levels were already low, but the need has now become increasingly urgent.

In an effort to encourage the community to donate, the team dressed up as their favorite characters and hosted its fall Bloodnooga blood drive at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

Ryann Brandenburg, an Account Manager with Blood Assurance, says platelets play a vital role in patient care and are needed every single day.

"We use them primarily in treatment for cancer patients, and we use them every single day at our hospitals," Brandenburg said. "We desperately need platelets all the time to keep up with supply because we use them so often. Right now, we're facing a shortage, so we're encouraging all of our donors to donate platelets if they're able to do so."

If you missed today's event, the team will be back tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 701 Vine Street.