Red Cross Declares National Emergency Over Critically Low US Blood Supply

The American Red Cross has declared a national blood supply crisis in the United States, reporting dangerously low levels of available blood. Dr. Baia Lasky, medical director for the organization, discussed the impact on hospitals and the urgent need for type O donations on ‘Fox & Friends First’.

This situation marks the second-ever blood crisis the organization has faced, with donations falling to a four-year low over the summer. This decline exacerbates an existing emergency, threatening the availability of lifesaving blood for patients nationwide, as noted in a press release by the Red Cross.

The Red Cross is now limiting distributions of type O blood to hospitals, highlighting the dire situation. The organization currently has less than a one-day supply of type O positive blood, which plays a crucial role in both routine and emergency medical care.

Type O positive is the most common blood type used for transfusions and can be safely administered to about 80% of patients. Type O negative is universally recognized for its crucial importance in medical emergencies.

Currently, donations are not keeping pace with the hospital demand, particularly during the summer trauma season. Factors like extreme heat, poor air quality, and foodborne illnesses have led to a drop in donor turnout, resulting in critical shortages reported by multiple blood collection agencies.

According to the Red Cross, adding just three more donors per blood drive could resolve the crisis and stabilize the supply. Individuals are encouraged to schedule appointments via the Blood Donor App, RedCrossBlood.org, or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS.

Chris Hrouda, President of Red Cross Biomedical Services, emphasized the organization’s dedication to strengthening the blood supply. Following a previous crisis in January 2022, additional measures were implemented to prevent a recurrence.

However, despite these safeguards, donations this summer have struggled to keep up with demand, placing particular strain on type O blood inventories.

Hrouda urged eligible donors to contribute, as every donation has the potential to save lives. Angelica Stabile, a lifestyle reporter for Fox News Digital, covered this developing story.