INDIANAPOLIS — The American Red Cross announced this week it is facing its first-ever “national blood crisis” with its worst blood shortage in more than a decade.
According to the Red Cross, the shortage has led doctors to make difficult decisions about who receives blood transfusions and who will need to wait until more blood is available.
LaMar Holliday, regional communications director for the American Red Cross Indiana Region, said the pandemic, severe winter weather, supply chain and staffing challenges, and the holidays have contributed to the shortage.
“These challenges have resulted in the lowest national blood inventories in more than a decade,” Holliday said in an email. “At times, as much as one-quarter of hospital blood needs are not being met. What is even more challenging at this time is that blood supply levels have remained at historically low levels now for nearly four months.”
All blood types are needed, but Type O is especially low. The Red Cross reported having less than a one-day supply of some blood types in recent weeks while having to limit distributions to hospitals.
The pandemic has created challenges for the Red Cross with a 10% decline in the number of people donating blood and a 62% drop in blood drives at schools and colleges.
People can make an appointment to give blood by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED-CROSS.
Donors who give blood or plasma in January will be entered in a chance to win a trip to Super Bowl LVI in Lon Angeles. People will also be entered in a drawing to win a home theater package and a $500 e-gift card.
-
Filing in Trump case details schism with Pence over rejecting 2020 election loss
Days before Jan. 6, Donald Trump told his vice president that people are going to “hate your guts” and “think you're stupid” if he failed to stop the 2020 election certification.Man shot, killed on the northeast side of Indianapolis
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers responded to the 5300 block of Culver Street on reports of a person down just before 1 a.m.Trump is returning to the site of Pennsylvania assassination attempt for a rally
Former President Trump is returning to the site of the Pennsylvania assassination attempt for a rally with his running mate JD Vance and X owner Elon MuskTropical Storm Milton forms in Gulf of Mexico, could hit Florida as hurricane
Florida once again could see a powerful tropical system strike the region as the National Hurricane Center warns of brewing Gulf of Mexico disturbance.