Media contact: Keith Paul
Regional Communications Director
keith.paul@redcross.org | 702-400-7680
LAS VEGAS (Sept. 26, 2023) — The American Red Cross is calling for a minimum of 10,000 additional blood donations nationwide each week over the next month to offset a critical shortage, caused by a combination of a summer-long dip in donations and numerous blood drive cancellations due to natural disasters. Southern Nevadans are urged to donate now to ensure lifesaving blood is available to patients in need.
“A convergence of multiple factors has resulted in this national blood shortage. The only solution is to increase the number of donors,” said Rachel Flanigan, Executive Director of the American Red Cross, Southern Nevada Chapter. “The availability of transfusable blood is vital to saving lives. If more people donate, we can end this blood shortage.”
This year has seen thousands of potential blood donations uncollected as severe weather events forced the closure of blood donation centers and the cancellation of blood drives across the country. Coupled with a summer-long slump in donations, this has left the country in urgent need of replenishing its blood supply. The last time the Red Cross declared a national blood emergency was in January 2022, which was the worst blood shortage in over a decade.
As it stands, the demand for blood in hospitals is outstripping the rate of incoming donations, resulting in a 25% decrease in the Red Cross's national blood supply in August alone. “Our deficit of approximately 30,000 donations last month leaves us struggling to meet the nationwide demand for lifesaving blood products,” added Flanigan. “Each week through next month, we need an additional 10,000 people nationwide to visit a local blood drive or donation center and give blood to help those in Nevada and across the country.”
Help end the national blood shortage
The Red Cross plays a pivotal role in maintaining the country's blood supply, contributing around 40% of all collected blood. To meet the needs of patients at over 2,500 hospitals and transfusion centers, the Red Cross must typically collect 12,500 blood and 3,000 platelet donations daily. Donors can schedule an appointment using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, by visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
While all blood types are needed, there is a critical need for type O and platelet donors. Type O positive is the most frequently transfused blood type, while O negative serves as the universal donor, often used in emergencies when the patient's blood type cannot be quickly determined. Platelets provide a unique blood product for hospital patients, like those fighting cancer.
Trauma patients, transplant recipients and those undergoing cancer treatment rely on blood donors to keep lifesaving blood available when needed. “Transfusable blood can only be obtained through donations,” said Dr. Walter Kelley, Medical Director for the Rocky Mountain Division of the American Red Cross. “Despite 62% of the population being eligible to donate, only about 3% does so. We depend on the generosity of donors to ensure blood is available when needed.”
Unique challenges to blood supply
As people settle back into fall school and work routines, a unique challenge to the blood supply remains – many employees continue to work from home or in a hybrid capacity, reducing the number of opportunities to give blood at business-sponsored blood drives. In fact, before the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 800,000 blood donations were made at blood drives hosted by businesses. Last year, the Red Cross saw only about 500,000 blood donations at these locations – a nearly 40% drop from pre-pandemic levels.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members, and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.