Red Cross Blood Supply Drops to Emergency Levels

The American Red Cross is asking people to roll up their sleeves now as the nation faces an emergency blood shortage.

The blood supply fell nearly 25% in June, leaving hospitals with fewer lifesaving blood products at a time when demand can rise because of summer accidents and trauma cases. Platelets and types O positive and B negative blood are especially needed.

Since late May, donations have dropped sharply. Busy summer schedules and the seasonal pause in school blood drives have contributed to the decline. Meanwhile, the Red Cross is sending hospitals nearly 3,500 more units of blood each week than expected.

That gap between donations and patient needs could put care at risk.

“A readily available blood supply serves as the backbone of modern medicine,” said Dr. Courtney Lawrence, medical director for the Red Cross. Without enough blood, emergency rooms, operating rooms, maternity units and cancer treatment centers may be forced to delay critical care, she said.

Blood cannot be stockpiled indefinitely. It has a limited shelf life, which means the supply must be continuously replenished by volunteer donors.

A recent Red Cross survey found that fewer than one in five people understood this. The survey also found that only about half of respondents believed they or someone close to them would likely need blood someday, even though someone in the United States receives a blood transfusion every two seconds.

One donation can help multiple patients, making each appointment an important step toward rebuilding the supply.

Donors can schedule an appointment through the Blood Donor App, at RedCrossBlood.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS.