The American Red Cross declared its second-ever national blood supply crisis on Tuesday, warning that blood supplies had fallen 25 percent within the last month.
The nonprofit, America's largest blood supplier, said it now has less than a day's supply of type O blood, the most common type. The shortage is forcing the organization to limit supplies to hospitals, leaving some patients waiting for critical blood transfusions.
Summer is one of the most challenging times for blood donations because of vacations, extreme heat and the loss of school blood drives. Three "heat domes" set in over parts of the US in late June and July, sending daytime temperatures above 90F (32C). A third heat dome is expected to hit southern and central states this week, pushing temperatures to 105F (40C).
Chris Hrouda, president of Red Cross Biomedical Services, said: "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."
The crisis also comes during trauma season, the period from Memorial Day to Labor Day when the need for blood to treat traumatic injuries increases. Red Cross blood distributions to hospitals are currently running nearly 3,500 units higher per week than expected. The organization said it has recorded a drop in donations since May.
The first-ever blood crisis was declared in January 2022, tied to disruptions in donations during the Covid pandemic.
Who Is Most at Risk
Patients facing the most critical, life-threatening emergencies could be most severely affected, including accident victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients, and those being treated for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease.
Type O blood accounts for about 60 percent of Red Cross blood distributions because it is critical for both everyday patient care and emergencies. Around 37 to 38 percent of Americans have type O blood, with O-positive making up the majority. The Red Cross is calling for donations of all blood types, saying A, B and AB donations are also needed to maintain a strong national supply.
With type O positive inventories hovering below a single day, emergency rooms face the prospect of not having enough blood on hand for a multi-vehicle crash or a shooting. Instead of fulfilling hospital orders in full, the Red Cross is now deciding how much type O blood each hospital receives based on the most urgent, life-threatening emergencies, meaning hospitals must prioritize which patients get blood and which must wait.
Trauma victims, hemorrhaging mothers and emergency surgery patients are being prioritized, while scheduled heart bypasses, organ transplants and routine cancer treatments face potential delays. Blood transfusions are also the backbone of treatment for leukemia patients, bone marrow transplant recipients and those undergoing aggressive chemotherapy, who rely on platelet and red cell transfusions to survive from week to week.
How to Donate
The Red Cross is calling on Americans to book an appointment at their nearest donation center. People can make appointments at redcrossblood.org or by calling 1-800-733-2767. Anyone who donates blood will receive a Fandango movie ticket.
The organization says just three more donors at each blood drive this summer could end the crisis and stabilize the national supply.
Donors must be in good health, at least 16 years old in most states, and weigh at least 110 pounds. Those who qualify can donate every 56 days, up to six times a year.
