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NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (WTNH) — The American Red Cross says blood donations across the country have fallen to a four-year summer low — prompting the organization to declare its second-ever “national blood supply crisis.”
In a news release issued Monday, the Red Cross said it had less than a one-day supply of type O positive blood, which is “the most commonly transfused blood type.” Donors of all blood types, however, are being called to donate.
“Some doctors are going to have to make some critical decisions, right? They’re going to have to decide where the blood is going to go,” Joanne Krekian, with the Red Cross, said. “When it’s your loved one who needs a blood transfusion, it’s not something you want to be waiting for.”
Emergency and medical services across the country are feeling the shortage. The Connecticut Blood Center declared a blood emergency in early July, with local healthcare facilities straining under low supplies.
“As of July 13, it was considered a shortage — something we haven’t seen since before COVID,” Dr. Eugene Lewis, of St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport, said. “We didn’t even see it in COVID.”
“We like to have a five-day supply, and we’re down to a two-day supply of blood,” Lewis continued.
The nonprofit organization Vitalant, which facilitates blood donations and operates over 100 donation centers in the U.S., had also said in early July that it was experiencing a concerning lack of blood donations.
“Vitalant is facing a critical shortage of type O blood and urges all donors, especially those with type O, to make an appointment now for the days ahead,” the organization wrote.
Representatives with the Red Cross say donating takes less than an hour of your time, and anyone interested in donating can register online. Donors are also eligible for thank-you gifts, including movie passes or Amazon gift cards, if they give blood before Aug. 31. More details are available at RedCrossBlood.org.
“If three more people show up for every blood drive for the rest of the summer, we will eliminate this shortage,” Krekian said.
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