Red Cross facing a national blood shortage

The American Red Cross is experiencing a national blood shortage. Fewer donors than needed have given this summer, drawing down the national blood supply and reducing distributions of some of the most needed blood types to hospitals. Hurricane Idalia further strained the blood supply with blood drive cancellations and reduced blood and platelet donations in affected areas. 

 

Donors of all blood types are urgently needed, and there is an emergency need for platelet donors and type O blood donors to make an appointment to give now to ensure patients across the country continue to receive critical medical care.  

When Idalia slammed into the Southeast – leading to widespread power outages, travel hazards and flooding – the storm also forced the cancellation of over a dozen blood drives and caused hundreds of blood and platelet donations to go uncollected. This compounded a shortfall of about 30,000 donations in August. Right now, blood product distributions to hospitals are outpacing the number of blood donations coming in. 

And now, all eyes in the Northeast and New England are looking at Hurricane Lee's path, currently a Category 3 storm swirling in the Atlantic Ocean, which some models say could impact our region this weekend. Lee has sustained winds of 120 mph and is capable of bringing wind damage and a dangerous storm surge. The reality is, the need for blood doesn't stop for disasters of any kind. So while we are pre-positioning disaster teams and supplies in areas of potential impact, we are also bracing for yet another hit to the blood supply. 

In our region, we are seeing huge appointment vacancies. Between September 11-30th, 75% of blood donation appointments remain open in Maine; 73% are open in Vermont and 78% are open in New Hampshire. 

Each day, the Red Cross needs to collect about 12,500 blood donations to meet the needs of patients at about 2,500 hospitals and transfusions centers across the country. In our region, we need to collect 152 donations every day in Maine; 165 donations in New Hampshire and 80 donations in Vermont. Ensuring a sufficient blood supply is critical to being able to provide routine and timely care for patients.

In thanks for helping rebuild the blood supply, all who come to give Sept. 1-18 will receive a limited-edition Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last. Those who come to give throughout September will also receive a coupon for a free haircut by email, thanks to Sport Clips Haircuts. Plus, they’ll be automatically entered for a chance to win a VIP NASCAR racing experience. Details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/RaceToGive. 

The Red Cross needs blood and platelet donors now. Schedule an appointment to give by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).