Memorial Blood Centers declare blood emergency

DULUTH, MN. (Northern News Now) – After a summer of low donor turnout, Memorial Blood Centers have declared a blood emergency.

Officials say the recent Labor Day holiday, back-to-school activities, and a prolonged 50% decrease in youth and first-time donors are contributing to the shortage.

The region’s blood supply is well below the optimal five to seven days.

All blood types are needed.

However, types O+, O-, B-, and platelets are critically low.

Officials say they missed exposing young and first-time donors to the life-saving act of giving blood for the three-plus years during the pandemic and are seeing the impact now.

Statistics on blood donation:

• Approximately 3 percent of the U.S. population donates blood each year.
• First-time donors are responsible for 31 percent (2,213,000) of U.S. whole blood donations, while repeat donors account for 69 percent.
• Of the total U.S. population, 62 percent of the U.S. population is eligible to donate, or 204.9 million individuals.
• A blood transfusion occurs in the U.S. every two seconds.
• In patients over the age of 64, transfusion of blood and blood products ranks as the second most common procedure performed in U.S. hospitals

Local blood drives in September:

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