Dr Courtney Lawrence said the American Red Cross blood bank is running “very, very low into our blood inventory” as the US shortage has reached crisis level for only the second time in the organization’s 150-year history. Hospitals in the US are already relying on lower shelves of blood for emergencies, and some have considered diverting patients if supplies cannot be maintained.
The Red Cross said supply levels dropped by a quarter just last month, even as it is distributing about 3,500 more units than normal during summer, when demand rises. Supplies of every blood type are needed, with O positive under particular pressure.
Dr Courtney Lawrence and 42 days
Lawrence said, “We don't have the ability to stockpile blood super far in advance because blood does have a finite shelf life, it does expire,” and that limit leaves the blood bank with little room to absorb a sudden drop in donations. Donated blood has to be used within 42 days because blood cells degrade over time.
The Red Cross provides about 40% of the blood supply in the US, so a shortfall there quickly reaches hospitals. The organization said the first time it declared a blood supply crisis was in January 2022 during the Covid pandemic and a period of severe winter weather.
Summer demand and shortages
Lawrence said wildfires and extreme heat contributed to the current shortage. The Red Cross also said summer usually brings more car accidents and more injuries from outdoor activity, which pushes demand up at the same time donations fall.
That combination leaves the blood bank drawing down inventory faster than it can be replaced. The Red Cross said it is already having to move more blood than usual through the system, while blood supplies are sliding at the same time.
Canada Blood Services
Canadian Blood Services said the pressure is not limited to the US. It said blood supplies in Canada have declined by nearly 20% since the start of June, and appointments have fallen short by 1,500 to 2,500 each week over the past six weeks.
Canadian Blood Services said there are now limited days on hand of several blood types. It added, “While a seasonal decline in donations is expected during the summer months and factored into planning, appointment bookings have fallen well below typical summer patterns,” and said, “There are now limited days on hand of several blood types - levels that are not sustainable for patient care should this trend not reverse itself.”
Blood bank pressure
The immediate problem for hospitals is inventory. Lawrence said the Red Cross has discussed “whether they may need to divert patients to other trauma centres if they cannot keep enough blood on their shelves to be able to support emergencies.”
For readers who can donate, the practical need is broad rather than narrow: supplies of every blood type are needed now, especially O positive. If donations do not improve, the blood bank will keep operating under the same constraint that defines this crisis — blood cannot be stored far ahead of need, and the shelf life is fixed at 42 days.
