Red Cross Reports Critical Blood Shortage
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – The American Red Cross is reporting a critical blood shortage as hospitals across the country request more blood than is currently available.
The organization says its national blood supply has dropped by about 35% over the past month, creating increased pressure on hospitals already strained by one of the worst flu seasons in nearly two decades.
High flu activity in nearly every state has reduced the number of healthy donors, while extreme winter weather has forced the cancellation or delay of hundreds of blood drives.
The Red Cross reports that approximately 400 blood drives were impacted by severe weather last month alone, leaving thousands of blood donations uncollected.
The shortage is particularly serious for platelets and blood types O, A negative, and B negative.
Platelets are essential for patients undergoing cancer treatments, organ transplants, and emergency surgeries, and they have a short shelf life of just five days.
Hospitals are now being forced to carefully manage blood products, raising concerns that some patients could face delays in lifesaving care.
Those most at risk include trauma victims, mothers experiencing childbirth complications, individuals with sickle cell disease, and patients undergoing cancer treatment.
The Red Cross is hosting several local blood drives between Jan. 21 and Jan. 23 in Chattanooga and Collegedale to help rebuild supplies.
To encourage donations, all donors giving through Jan. 25 will also be entered for a chance to win a trip to Super Bowl LX, including game tickets, airfare, and hotel accommodations.
The Red Cross says winter is traditionally a challenging time for blood collection, but widespread illness and continued weather disruptions have made the situation more urgent this year.
