The Red Cross Blames Extreme Temperatures for Blood Shortage — Details Here

The American Red Cross is sounding the alarm after the nation's blood supplies dipped to dangerously low levels. In August, the group announced a 25 percent drop in the stockpiles of blood that the country uses to help during everything from natural disasters to routine surgeries. As it turns out, there is one specific culprit that the Red Cross is accusing of keeping stores low: extreme heat.

Extensive heat waves have kept people from coming out to donate, according to the organization, and it sounds like they're starting to get worried about how dire the situation will get as some states announce blood emergencies. Keep reading to learn more about the national blood shortage, including how you can donate to the Red Cross.

The Red Cross tells NBC News it has seen a 25 percent dip in its blood supplies since July. That's a big problem for those who need the blood for life-saving care, like expectant parents facing complications with labor and delivery. One nurse told the news agency that moms need over seven liters of blood at a time in some situations, which may be more blood than hospitals will soon have on hand.

It's not just moms who need access to donated blood, either. Those who have experienced traumatic injuries or simply those who are coming into the hospital for routine surgery can all require blood, and when that blood isn't there, it can impact patient care. In Connecticut, that potential impact seems like it's at a tipping point, as The Connecticut Blood Center reveals that it has about three days worth of type O blood left, per NBC Connecticut.

Type O is considered "universal" because of a lack of antigens, according to the Red Cross, which means that people can typically have O blood without fear of reacting, even if they have a different blood type. The dwindling supplies have caused Connecticut leaders to issue a statewide blood emergency, which will serve as both a warning and a plea to help get those donors to head to their nearest drive.

It's no secret that the country has been plagued by extreme heat in 2024, and the Red Cross is saying that those headline-making temperatures are behind recent donor shortages. The organization says that nearly 100 blood drives were impacted by the triple-digit heat, causing turnout to drop or organizers to cancel events.

While the Red Cross does admit its donations typically stall during the summer months, they see a clear connection between the changing climate and the blood shortages. The organization believes that 19,000 donations were lost during July alone due to the heat. That shortfall puts communities across the country at risk as hospitals are using the blood faster than donations arrive.

If you'd like to help with the ongoing blood donation shortage you can find a donation center in your area by visiting the Red Cross website.