Blood Crisis Persists, Donors Needed Now to Help Protect Patient Care
Officials say summer heat and lower school donations have strained supplies as O positive falls below a one-day reserve.
- The American Red Cross declared a national blood crisis on July 14, 2026, as the organization faces a "four-year summer low" in donations. This shortage creates a significant strain on the national blood supply.
- Medical officials refer to summer as "trauma season," a period when extreme heat, poor air quality, and widespread illnesses reduce donations. Simultaneously, the demand for lifesaving transfusions increases, creating a persistent seasonal challenge.
- O positive blood has dropped below a one-day supply, while O negative, the "universal" type, remains in constant demand. Three or four hospitals requesting large amounts of blood can quickly deplete existing stocks.
- Kentucky Blood Center officials warn that medical facilities may face difficult choices, including delaying essential surgeries due to insufficient blood. "It's an annual strain," they said, adding the center is operating with low supplies.
- Scheduling appointments online remains vital to help reverse the crisis. Donors who give blood throughout August will receive a $20 Amazon Gift Card as a thank-you for their contribution to the national blood supply.
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39 Articles
Summer blood shortages are causing serious problems in transfusions for patients requiring multiple transfusions, with dozens of scheduled transfusions already postponed or being performed with reduced amounts of blood.
Red Cross urges blood donations amid 'national blood crisis'
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) -- The American Red Cross is continuing its push for more blood donations to help stabilize its blood supply, "amid the ongoing national blood crisis." At the end of July, the Red Cross declared its second-ever national blood crisis. Since then, the organization said thousands of generous donors stepped up and [...]
Red Cross declares blood crisis, dire need of donations
The American Red Cross has declared a nationwide blood crisis for only the second time in its history. Supply levels are at historic lows at a time of year when donations typically are down. Kyle Kriegel, the Executive Director of the Southwest Chapter of the American Red Cross in Wisconsin, visited La Crosse Talk on Tuesday morning to talk about the need for blood donations. He said it only takes about an hour to donate. “You know ther…
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