Health
Red Cross Declares Second-Ever National Blood Supply Crisis
A Red Cross blood donor rolls up a sleeve to give blood during the COVID-19 outbreak at the Rockville Donation Center in Maryland. (Photo by Dennis Drenner / American Red Cross)
For only the second time in its history, the American Red Cross has declared a national blood supply crisis.
The organization now has less than a one-day supply of type O positive blood in its national supply, according to a Monday statement. The organization cited a four-year summer low in blood donations, combined with rising demand during the summer trauma season, for causing the crisis.
The Red Cross declared the first national blood crisis in January 2022. At the time, decreased collection from blood drives due to the COVID-19 pandemic led to the shortage.
In Monday’s statement, the Red Cross cited extreme heat, poor air quality and widespread foodborne illnesses as reasons for reduced blood donations.
Earlier this summer, the Red Cross declared a blood “shortage,” as higher than expected distributions to hospitals caused the supply to fall 25% in June. That shortage applied to types O positive and B negative blood.
The Red Cross provides blood to over 2,500 hospital partners around the country, and aims to collect 12,500 units of blood per day, according to Mara Thompson, regional communications manager at Red Cross of Illinois. Because the Red Cross manages a nationwide blood supply network, local shortages in one region can sometimes be compensated for with blood donated in other parts of the country.
Blood can be used for 14 to 35 days after it was donated, so constant replenishing of the supply is necessary, according to Thompson.
Over 80% of the population can receive O positive blood, making it the most common blood type given to patients who need transfusions.
While Type O negative blood is often referred to as a universal blood type, because virtually any patient can receive it without an adverse reaction, O negative blood is relatively rare. Because of that, O positive blood is typically used in trauma care scenarios when the patient’s blood type is unknown.
Both the Red Cross and the Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies are encouraging eligible individuals to donate blood. The Red Cross of Illinois maintains a list of blood donation centers around the state.
