Critical shortage: Red Cross declares second-ever blood supply crisis
Critical shortage: Red Cross declares second-ever blood supply crisis
Marc Ramirez, USA TODAYWed, July 29, 2026 at 11:41 PM UTC
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For only the second time in its history, the American Red Cross has declared a national blood supply crisis with donation levels falling to a four-year summer low.
The shortage threatens the availability of lifesaving blood for emergency surgeries and accident victims, cancer treatment and other serious medical needs, the nonprofit humanitarian and disaster-relief agency said in a plea for donors posted on social media. Health workers warn the crisis could delay surgeries requiring transfusions and paralyze maternity wards.
“Blood donations simply are not keeping pace with hospital demand,” Chris Hrouda, president of Red Cross Biomedical Services, said in a statement. “Inventories — especially type O blood — remain under significant strain . . . We urgently need everyone who is eligible to make an appointment to give blood as soon as possible.”
Earlier this month, the Red Cross declared an emergency blood shortage after supplies fell nearly 25% in June, causing inventories to dip below desirable levels. The situation prompted the agency to offer vouchers for free movie tickets to those who donated blood before July 31.
A national blood supply crisis is more severe, indicating inventory of critical blood types has fallen below crucial thresholds and threatens to run out. The agency, the nation’s largest single provider of blood products, said it has less than a one-day national supply of type O positive blood – the most transfused blood type – and will actively limit such shipments to individual hospitals for the time being.
Why Type O blood is crucial
Type O blood accounts for about 60% of Red Cross blood distributions, the agency said, essential for both everyday patient care and medical emergencies. Type O positive can be safely given to about 80% of patients.
When hospitals maintain healthy supplies of A, B and AB blood, they can give patients blood matching their blood type whenever possible. This saves type O blood both for patients with type O blood and for life-threatening emergencies, when there isn't time to determine a patient's blood type.
A strong supply of every blood type is critical to that effort, the Red Cross said.
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On July 10, the Red Cross, America’s Blood Centers and the Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies issued a joint statement calling for blood donors, noting supplies were already falling to precipitous levels.
“Many blood collection organizations have faced, or are currently facing, a critical shortage this summer,” the organizations said.
Donor turnout hit by heat, health scares
The only time the Red Cross previously declared a national blood crisis was in January 2022.
Since then, the agency said it had taken measures to avoid such situations. Hospitals now schedule nearly two-thirds of their anticipated blood needs in advance, providing greater predictability for both the volume and destination of necessary blood products.
However, extreme heat, poor air quality and widespread foodborne illnesses have combined to dampen donor turnout this summer, straining the nation’s blood supply, the Red Cross said. Demand typically rises during what America's Blood Centers calls the "100 Deadly Days of Summer," the post-Memorial Day stretch when heightened outdoor recreation and road travel bring more accidents and injuries.
The organization is urging all eligible blood donors – especially those with type O blood – to immediately make arrangements to give, either by using the Blood Donor app, visiting the agency web site or calling 1-800-RED-CROSS (733-2767). Just three more donors at each summer blood drive could resolve the crisis, the agency said.
Those who give by July 31 will receive a movie ticket voucher via email, while those who donate in the month of August will get a $20 Amazon gift card.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Critical shortage: Red Cross declares second-ever blood supply crisis
Source: “AOL Breaking”
