Red Cross Sounds the Alarm as Blood Supply Runs Critically Low

(KNSI) – The American Red Cross is sounding the alarm due to an unprecedented blood shortage.

Red Cross officials say blood supply has fallen by more than 25% since July 1st. Northern and Central Minnesota Red Cross Executive Director Dan Williams says they’ve had shortages before, but this one is different. “What makes this sort of troubling and harder and important for us to tackle and to get people to get involved in is that we rarely see a blood shortage at this time of year. So, we’re in a time period that we would think that typically blood donations would be ramping up.”

Williams attributes the low numbers nationwide to the weather. He says the heat, rain and flooding have canceled many blood drives or kept people from attending. Williams explained that the weather isn’t the only factor keeping the number low. For some reason, people are not donating like they used to. “The number of people donating blood is down about 40% over the last 30 years. And so, there’s less people that are stepping up and making the blood supply safe for all of us.”

Blood supplies are usually lowest around the Fourth of July and between Christmas and New Year’s when people are the most busy.

Donors are being encouraged to roll up their sleeves during the month of August and get a $20 Amazon gift card. The Red Cross says one blood donation can potentially help save three lives. Find a donation center here.

A new feature also allows donors to discover where their blood went and how it helped.

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