Blood Donations Taking Ill-Timed Nosedive

There’s already a national blood shortage, but a lack of donations in the past month has put the country’s supply in critical condition and in need of donors for people who depend on lifesaving transfusions.

The American Red Cross, which provides 40% of the nation’s blood supply, announced Monday (Sept. 11) that donations were down 25% since early August. “Back-to-back months of worsening climate-driven disasters have further strained the blood supply, resulting in blood drive cancellations and reducing much-needed blood and platelet donations in affected areas,” the Red Cross says.

Low donor-turnout also has affected Miller-Keystone Blood Center, according to spokesperson Keith Vogrin. “Our inventory has taken a steep decline in recent days,” Vogrin says. “About 350 units of blood are needed every day in the 12 counties we serve, and 43,000 units are used each day in the U.S.”