By Kaylee Remington
cleveland.com
CLEVELAND, Ohio — The American Red Cross is urging people to donate blood immediately after declaring only the second national blood crisis in the organization’s history, warning that dwindling blood supplies are putting additional strain on hospitals during the peak of the summer trauma season.
Blood donations have fallen to a four-year summer low, worsening an emergency shortage as hospitals continue to rely on lifesaving transfusions for trauma victims, cancer patients, mothers experiencing childbirth complications and people living with sickle cell disease.
While all blood types are needed, the shortage is especially severe for type O blood. The Red Cross has begun limiting distributions of type O blood products to hospitals as supplies continue to decline. Type O positive blood has dropped to less than a one-day supply.
Only the second national blood crisis
The Red Cross previously declared a national blood crisis in January 2022 as the country grappled with the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Christy Peters, a spokeswoman for the American Red Cross Northern Ohio Region, said a blood supply crisis is the organization’s most severe blood shortage designation and poses a significant risk to patient care.
Following the 2022 crisis, the Red Cross said it had implemented additional safeguards, including enhanced planning with hospitals to better anticipate ongoing blood needs. Despite those efforts, this summer’s combination of increased hospital demand and declining donations has once again pushed the nation’s 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,” Chris Hrouda, president of Red Cross Biomedical Services, said in a statement. “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.”
Why this summer is different
Although blood donations typically decline during the summer months, the Red Cross said this year’s shortage is more severe than the usual seasonal slowdown.
Blood collections have dropped sharply since the end of May, creating a widening gap between supply and patient need. At the same time, hospital demand for blood products has increased during the height of trauma season, when hospitals often see more serious injuries and medical emergencies.
Peters said extreme heat, poor air quality and widespread foodborne illnesses have also contributed to lower donor turnout, further straining the nation’s blood supply.
Without immediate action, patients who rely on transfusions, including trauma victims, mothers in childbirth and people with sickle cell disease or cancer, face serious risks.
A nationwide challenge
The shortage is affecting communities across the country.
Peters said the Red Cross monitors the blood supply daily and works with hospital partners to prioritize patient needs nationwide. Many blood collection organizations have also reported critical shortages this summer.
The organization provides blood products to about 2,500 hospitals and transfusion centers across the country.
Blood can’t be stockpiled
Unlike many medical supplies, blood has a limited shelf life and cannot be stockpiled.
According to Peters, a recent Red Cross survey found fewer than one in five respondents understood that blood cannot be stored indefinitely and must be continually replenished through volunteer donations.
Every day, the Red Cross must collect more than 13,000 blood donations and about 3,000 platelet donations to meet patient needs. Peters said if just three additional donors gave at each blood drive this summer, it would help end the crisis and stabilize the nation’s blood supply.
How to help
The Red Cross is urging eligible donors of all blood types to schedule an appointment as soon as possible. There is an especially urgent need for type O blood donors, platelet donors and type AB plasma donors.
People with type O-positive or B-negative blood are encouraged to make a Power Red donation where available, while those with type AB blood are encouraged to donate plasma.
Appointments can be made through the Blood Donor App, by visiting, through the Red Cross’ website, or by calling 1-800- RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
As a thank-you, those who donate through Friday will receive a Fandango movie ticket by email valued at up to $15, including ticket price and fees. Donors who give blood between Aug. 1 and Aug. 31 will receive a $20 Amazon gift card by email.
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