AI Generated Image
There's a National Blood Supply Crisis Happening Right Now
Gizmodo • • business
Key Points:
- The American Red Cross has declared a national blood crisis for the second time in its history due to dangerously low blood and platelet levels, with type O-positive blood supplies especially strained.
- Blood donations have declined by 25% recently, reaching a four-year summer low, while hospital demand remains high, partly due to increased traumatic injuries and factors like extreme heat and poor air quality reducing donor turnout.
- The Red Cross, which supplies about 40% of the U.S. blood supply, has begun limiting distributions of type O blood to hospitals, and platelet shortages are also at emergency levels.
- Other major blood suppliers have joined the Red Cross in calling for more donors to address this nationwide shortage.
- Eligible Americans are urgently encouraged to donate blood to help prevent hospitals from having to ration care and to save lives during this critical shortage.
