Red Cross declares first-ever national blood crisis

The American Red Cross warned this week that it is facing a “national blood crisis.”

The organization said its “worst blood shortage in over a decade” is “posing a concerning risk to patient care” and that doctors have been “forced to make difficult decisions about who receives blood transfusions and who will need to wait until more products become available. Blood and platelet donations are critically needed to help prevent further delays in vital medical treatments.”

The contributing factors to the crisis include a 10% decline in overall blood donor turnout since March 2020, a 62% drop in college and high school blood drives due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ongoing blood drive cancellations because of illness, staffing limitations and weather-related closures and a surge of COVID-19 cases and an active flu season that “may compound the already bad situation.”

“At a time when many businesses and organizations across the country are experiencing pandemic challenges, the Red Cross is no different. We are all learning how to live in this new environment, how we spend our time, where we work, how we give back, how we make a difference in the lives of others – donating blood must continue to be part of it,” the Red Cross wrote. – READ MORE