Skip to main content

Red Cross Repeats Call for Blood Donors as Shortage Continues

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Jan 24, 2024.

By Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 24, 2024 -- Reiterating a plea it made earlier this month, the American Red Cross is urging people to roll up their sleeves and give blood.

A series of severe winter storms this month have exacerbated an already bad situation, as a shortage of lifesaving donated blood continues, the agency said.

The storms "hampered our ability to boost critically low blood supply levels," said Red Cross spokesman Daniel Parra.

"Since the beginning of the year, blood drives have been cancelled in nearly every state where the Red Cross collects blood, causing thousands of units of blood and platelets to go uncollected," he added.

Parra explained that to bring blood supplies back up to normal levels, the agency needs to collect an extra 8,000 donations each week over the next few weeks.

It's easy to find out when and where you can donate blood, by heading to RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Already, the United States has the lowest number of people giving blood observed over the past 20 years, according to the Red Cross. When supplies are stretched thin, events such as storms can "have a huge effect on the availability of blood products," Parra noted.

"Donors in areas unaffected by severe weather are vital to ensuring those in need of transfusions have access to lifesaving care across the Red Cross network," he said.

As an added incentive, people who choose to donate during the month of January will be entered to win a trip for two to Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas. There's more on that at RedCrossBlood.org/SuperBowl.

Sources

  • American Red Cross, news release, Jan. 24, 2024

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Posted January 2024

Read this next

'Whole Blood' Transfusions Might Save More Lives

FRIDAY, Feb. 2, 2024 -- Patients who are bleeding out have a better chance of surviving if they’re given whole blood transfusions, a new study shows. Traditionally...

Red Cross Declares Emergency Blood Shortage as Donations Plummet

MONDAY, Jan. 8, 2024 -- With donations falling to the lowest levels in 20 years, the American Red Cross declared a national blood shortage on Sunday.  “One of the most...

Smaller Blood Draws for Lab Tests Reduce Need for Transfusions

FRIDAY, Oct. 13, 2023 -- Drawing smaller amounts of blood from patients in the intensive care unit could lead to fewer blood transfusions, according to new research. The large...

More news resources

Subscribe to our newsletter

Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.