American Red Cross Declares Emergency Blood Shortage

The American Red Cross has announced an emergency blood shortage, reporting a significant 25% drop in the national blood supply during June.

On Monday, the organization revealed that hospitals are using approximately 3,500 more units of blood each week than expected, which led to this urgent declaration.

During the summer months, the demand for blood typically increases due to factors like travel-related injuries, car accidents, and outdoor activities. At the same time, summer schedules and the cancellation of school blood drives contribute to a stark decline in donations, which the Red Cross pointed out.

Moreover, the organization highlighted that blood has a limited shelf life of just a couple of weeks, making regular donations crucial for maintaining an adequate supply.

“Summer always brings challenges for the blood supply, but patients are still in the hospital, needing blood for critical medical care,” stated Dr. Courtney Lawrence, division chief medical officer for the Red Cross. “Without blood available, emergency rooms and maternity wards are paralyzed. Patients with life-threatening conditions may not receive necessary treatments. By donating blood, you help our doctors and nurses save lives. We urge all those who may be eligible to give now to end this shortage.”

It’s worth noting that someone in the U.S. requires a blood transfusion every two seconds. This shortage directly affects patient care, prompting doctors to potentially prioritize who gets blood first.

“When there’s a shortage, doctors may have to decide who can receive it immediately and who can wait. Maintaining an adequate supply of all blood types is essential, especially when seconds count,” explained Amie Rawson, Vitalant senior vice president of donor services.

The urgency for all blood types remains high, particularly for O positive and B negative blood, as well as AB plasma. The Red Cross noted that patients who rely on transfusions—such as those undergoing cancer treatment, mothers with complications during childbirth, and trauma patients—are at greater risk when supplies dwindle.

The American Red Cross is encouraging individuals not to delay and to step up to help save lives by donating blood.

Appointments can be made to donate blood or platelets through the Blood Donor App, by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).