The American Red Cross and U.S. Surgeon General are warning that the nation’s blood supply has reached crisis levels after donations dropped to a four-year summer low.
The organization said it now has less than a 1-day national supply of O-positive blood, the most frequently transfused blood type, forcing it to limit shipments to hospitals to preserve available inventory for the most urgent cases. O-positive blood is common because type O is the ancestral human blood type, and the Rh-positive trait is naturally dominant in human populations.
Roughly 38% of people have O positive blood, making it the the most frequent type globally. O-positive red blood cells work for anyone with a positive blood type (O+, A+, B+, and AB+).
O-negative blood is quite rare, found in only about 7% of the general population (roughly one in 14 to 15 people). Because it is a universal red cell donor type, it is heavily requested during medical emergencies, making it one of the most needed supplies in hospitals.
The Red Cross reported that blood donations have failed to keep pace with seasonal demand, which typically increases during the summer as travel, outdoor activities and accidents contribute to a greater need for transfusions.
According to the organization, extreme heat, poor air quality and widespread foodborne illnesses have discouraged donations and reduced the number of eligible donors.
Officials warned that if the shortage continues, hospitals could face delays in surgeries, trauma care, cancer treatments and other procedures that rely on a steady blood supply.
The Red Cross described the situation as only the second national blood supply crisis it has declared, following a similar emergency during the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2022, and is urging eligible Americans to donate as soon as possible.