(Nationwide) – For just the second time in its history, the American Red Cross has declared a national blood supply crisis after donations fell to a four-year summer low.
The organization says this deepens an emergency shortage that threatens the availability of lifesaving blood for patients across the country.
Despite thousands of people answering the call to give, blood donations are not keeping pace with hospital demand — which is up during the summer trauma season.
Extreme heat, poor air quality and widespread foodborne illnesses are contributing to lower donor turnout this summer, further straining the nation’s blood supply.
All blood types are needed but the Red Cross says the situation is dire for Type-O.
January 2022 is the only other time that the Red Cross declared a national blood crisis.
Since then, the organization has put several prevention measures in place, such as enhancing planning with hospitals for their ongoing needs.
But this summer’s elevated demand and persistent collections challenges have still pushed the national blood supply to crisis levels.
“The Red Cross takes its responsibility as the nation’s largest single provider of blood products incredibly seriously and has worked tirelessly to strengthen the blood supply for our hospital partners,” said Chris Hrouda, president of Red Cross Biomedical Services. “Following our first-ever national blood crisis in 2022, we put additional safeguards in place to help prevent a crisis like that from happening again. But this summer, blood donations simply are not keeping pace with hospital demand, and inventories — especially type O blood — remain under significant strain. Every donation has the potential to help save lives, and we urgently need everyone who is eligible to make an appointment to give blood as soon as possible.”
You can help replenish the blood supply by booking an appointment through use of the Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
