Following
a difficult Fourth of July week for blood and platelet donations and ongoing
challenges finding new blood donors, the American Red Cross now faces a blood
shortage and has issued an emergency call for eligible individuals of all
blood types to give now and prevent delays in medical care.
About
450 fewer blood drives were organized by businesses and other community
groups last week than during a typical week as people across the country
celebrated the holiday with activities and travel. This led to about 17,000
fewer blood donations than needed for patients in a single week, causing the
Red Cross to now have less than a three-day supply of most blood types
available – and less than a two-day supply of type O blood – for patients. At
least a five-day supply is desired.
“Medical
emergencies and critical treatments don’t stop for holiday celebrations.
Patients depend on lifesaving blood transfusions every day,” said Cliff
Numark, senior vice president, Red Cross Blood Services. “Right now, the Red
Cross only has less than a three-day supply when we need a five-day supply to
be prepared for all situations that require blood products. To help meet this
need, we’ve added about 8,000 additional appointments at blood donation
centers and community blood drives over the next few weeks to accommodate
more donors. But we need people to fill those appointments, please join us
today.”
In
June, the Red Cross launched the Missing Types campaign to encourage donors –
especially new donors and those who have not donated in the past years – to
give blood or platelets during the challenging summer months. Through the
campaign, the letters A, B and O – letters that make up the main blood groups
– disappeared from popular brands to symbolize what happens when blood goes
missing from hospital shelves during blood shortages.
Despite
an encouraging response to the campaign, blood donations still fell short of
expectations in June, resulting in more than 24,000 fewer donations than
needed, causing a significant draw down of the Red Cross blood supply.
“Blood
is only available when generous blood and platelet donors roll up a sleeve to
give, and right now, all donors – especially those give have never given or
haven’t given in a while – are urged to make an appointment to give today,”
Numark added.
Donors
of all blood types, especially type O, are urged to make an appointment to
donate using the Blood Donor App, at RedCrossBlood.org or by calling
1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Donation appointments and completion of a
RapidPass online health history questionnaire are encouraged to help reduce
the time it takes to donate.