Since the American Red Cross issued our first-ever blood crisis alert, we’ve witnessed the generosity of blood and platelet donors nationwide. So many have rolled up their sleeves to help ensure patients counting on blood product transfusions can receive lifesaving care without delay.
Many long-time, dedicated donors continue to give so generously, while new donors are helping us address the shortage. We know many of these new donors will become lifetime donors as they see the impact their donations makes.
As winter presses on, the Red Cross blood supply remains at dangerously low levels. The Red Cross has experienced about a 10% decline in the number of people donating blood since the pandemic began. Additionally, hundreds of blood drives have been canceled across the country due to winter storms in January, forcing about 6,500 blood and platelet donations to go uncollected.
Blood cannot be manufactured or stockpiled and can only be made available through the kindness of volunteer donors. Those interested in helping are urged to schedule the earliest-available blood or platelet donation appointment in their area to help ensure accident victims rushed to the emergency room, those being treated for cancer and others who count on blood product transfusions can receive lifesaving care without delay.