ST. GEORGE — People considering donating blood are being asked to do so quickly as the American Red Cross announced Monday there is a nationwide blood shortage.
According to a news release, the supply dropped by 25% in July and as a result poses a serious threat to patient care.
“When supplies of blood fall to critical levels, it puts patient care at risk, especially during major accidents or emergencies requiring a large amount of blood transfusions,” Heidi Ruster, chief executive officer of the American Red Cross Utah/Nevada Region, said in a news release. “If you’re healthy and able, we urge you to donate blood this week to make a lifesaving impact.”
The shortage of over 19,000 blood donations across the country in July stems from decreased summer donations and the cancellation of numerous blood drives due to natural disasters and extreme heat.
The current number of incoming donations is not keeping pace with hospitals’ demand for blood, the news release said.
Urgent need for Type O blood
The current shortage of type O blood has caused a reduction in distributions, affecting hospitals that rely on this crucial blood type. Type O positive is the most frequently transfused blood type, while type O negative serves as the universal blood type crucial in emergency situations when there is no time to determine a patient’s blood type, the Red Cross said.
The summer months typically see a rise in severe injuries from accidents and activities, driving up the demand for blood transfusions, particularly type O blood. Donating blood helps safeguard the availability of lifesaving treatments.
“It’s critical hospitals have both type O positive and O negative blood ready to go for patients in the most life-threatening situations,” said Dr. Eric Gehrie, executive physician director for the Red Cross, in the news release. “Type O is especially important for victims of accidents and other trauma who are receiving emergency treatment. It is crucial for donors of all blood types to step forward now to replenish hospital supplies before patient care is compromised.”
How to schedule blood donation
Utahns interested in donating blood should click here to learn more about donation centers across the state. The St. George facility is located at 476 E. Riverside Drive, Suite B-6.
Donors can book an appointment through the Red Cross Blood Donor App, by visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). As a token of appreciation, all donors visiting between Aug. 1-31, 2024, will receive a $20 Amazon.com Gift Card via email. For more information, visit RedCrossBlood.org/Help.
As a key contributor to the nation’s blood inventory, the Red Cross supplies around 40% of all collected blood, supporting over 2,500 hospitals and transfusion centers nationwide. To meet patients’ needs, the Red Cross must collect about 12,500 blood and 3,000 platelet donations daily. In Utah, nearly 45 hospitals rely on the Red Cross for their blood supply.
Host a blood drive
The Red Cross also encourages businesses, churches, schools and community groups in Utah to organize Red Cross blood drives. Hosting a blood drive is a meaningful way to give back to the community and support a crucial cause, the news release said. The Red Cross provides planning assistance, recruitment tools and on-site support to ensure a successful event.
Learn more about hosting a blood drive at redcrossblood.org/host-a-drive.