Red Cross declares emergency blood shortage – donate today!

THE WOODLANDS, TX – The American Red Cross faces an emergency blood shortage after its national blood inventory plummeted more than 25 percent in July. This summer’s record-setting heat is a significant contributor to recent blood collection challenges impacting almost 100 blood drives in the last month – in nearly every state where the Red Cross collects blood — further compounding other typical seasonal obstacles to blood donation, such as vacation travel and summer activities.

Meanwhile, hospital demand for lifesaving blood products has remained constant – rapidly drawing down the blood supply. The Red Cross is working with hospitals around the clock to meet the blood needs of patients. However, due to the supply of type O blood being so low, the organization has had to reduce distributions of this vital blood type in recent weeks to below hospital comfort levels.

As a result, the Red Cross has issued an appeal for blood donations. All types are needed now, especially types O positive and O negative, as well as platelet donations, to help reverse this national blood shortage. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age, weigh at least 110 pounds, and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements. As an added incentive, those who come to give blood in August will receive a $20 Amazon.com gift card.

“Having type O blood products readily available is vital to providing timely and lifesaving care to patients in need,” said Dr. Baia Lasky, division chief medical officer for the Red Cross. “In fact, for a patient suffering massive blood loss, like an individual in a car accident or a mom experiencing a severe postpartum hemorrhage, group O is the most commonly transfused blood type. For trauma patients, each minute of delay can increase the chance of death by 5 percent. More than a quarter of all blood products each year are used in critical care and emergency room situations – those transfusions are only available because of the generosity of blood and platelet donors.”

The Red Cross encourages you to make an appointment to give blood or platelets as soon as possible by using the Red Cross Blood Donor app, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).