American Red Cross declares second-ever national blood supply crisis

The American Red Cross has declared only the second national blood supply crisis in its history after donations fell to a four-year summer low, threatening the availability of lifesaving blood nationwide.

The organization now holds less than a one-day supply of type O positive blood, the most commonly transfused type, and has begun limiting type O distributions to individual hospitals. Type O accounts for roughly 60% of Red Cross distributions.

The shortage lands in a summer when the government is preparing for contingencies of a different scale. The Selective Service System is seeking simulation software from private tech firms to test a national mobilization of American manpower, months before automatic draft registration begins for men aged 18 to 26, as the five-month war with Iran escalates. Neither agency has linked those developments to the blood supply, and the Red Cross attributes the shortage to seasonal factors. But blood cannot be manufactured, and the national margin is now under a day.

Chris Hrouda, president of Red Cross Biomedical Services, said safeguards added after the first crisis in January 2022 have not been enough, with donations failing to keep pace with hospital demand and type O inventories under significant strain. Extreme heat, poor air quality and widespread foodborne illness have cut into donor turnout during peak summer trauma season.

Three additional donors at each blood drive would end the crisis. Those giving by July 31 receive a Fandango movie ticket; August donors receive a $20 Amazon gift card.