Red Cross warns of critical blood shortage and calls for urgent donors

The American Red Cross reports that the country’s inventory of Type O positive blood, the most frequently transfused type, has dropped to under one day’s supply. Because of the scarcity, the agency is limiting shipments to hospitals, which could delay surgeries and emergency care. Donations have slumped to a four-year summer low, a trend the Red Cross attributes to extreme heat, deteriorating air quality and a surge in food-borne illnesses that have kept potential donors at home.

Chris Hrouda, president of Red Cross Biomedical Services, issued a statement urging every eligible person to make an appointment and give blood immediately. This shortage triggers only the second national blood-supply emergency the Red Cross has declared, the first being in January 2022 when COVID-19 and staffing gaps strained the system. Officials stress that each donation can save lives and that restoring a stable supply is critical for ongoing medical treatments.