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The American Red Cross announced a nationwide blood crisis on Wednesday, marking only the second such declaration in the organization’s history. The emergency declaration followed a sharp decline in blood donations during summer months, with supplies reaching their lowest point in four years, the organization stated in a press release.
Type O blood, which accounts for approximately 60 percent of all Red Cross distributions, has fallen to critically dangerous levels. The nation’s largest single blood provider now maintains less than a one-day supply of type O positive blood, prompting the organization to impose strict rationing protocols with hospitals across the country.
Type O positive blood represents the most commonly transfused variety and can be administered safely to roughly 80 percent of patients. Type O negative, classified as the universal blood type, remains essential for emergency situations where time constraints make blood type verification impossible, Red Cross officials explained.
Contributing factors to the supply shortage include extreme summer heat, deteriorating air quality, and widespread foodborne illness outbreaks, all of which have discouraged potential donors from participating in blood drives. Hospital demand during summer trauma season continues to outpace available donations, despite thousands of Americans visiting donation centers.
Chris Hrouda, president of Red Cross Biomedical Services, stated the organization has implemented additional safeguards since declaring its previous crisis in January 2022. “This summer, blood donations simply are not keeping pace with hospital demand,” Hrouda said, calling for immediate action from eligible donors nationwide.
The Red Cross estimates that adding just three donors per blood drive would resolve the current crisis and stabilize supplies. Individuals interested in donating can schedule appointments through the Blood Donor App, at RedCrossBlood.org, or by calling 1-800-733-2767.
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