Blood shortage hits ‘critical’ level as flu and ice disrupt donations, Red Cross says

A combination of punishing winter weather and virulent flu season has resulted in a ‘critical’ shortage of donated blood, the Red Cross said Tuesday morning.

“The American Red Cross has reissued an urgent call for blood and platelet donors after severe winter weather and seasonal flu has contributed to a spike in canceled donations. More than 16,500 blood and platelet donations have gone uncollected this month and the situation is considered critical,” said Kristen Stancil from the American Red Cross. “Right now, blood and platelets are being distributed to hospitals faster than they are coming in.”

Stancil said blood donations typically decline in the winter and holiday season, because people are busy with family and new year obligations, and also during the summer, when many people travel.

But she said this year’s decline is compounded by abnormally severe icy weather in the South and a virulent flu seasoned that has bloomed into epidemic proportions.

“The flu has contributed to low turnout at some of our blood drives,” Stancil said. “You have to be healthy to donate blood, so the flu, as well as just things like colds, are keeping people away.”

Stancil said the shortage is not at an emergency level yet, but was alarming. “We encourage all eligible blood donors to come give,” she said.

The Red Cross said all blood types are “urgently needed” but the most critical need at this time is for:

• Platelets: The clotting portion of blood primarily given to cancer patients during treatment and always in great demand.
• Type O negative: The blood type that can be transfused to almost everyone and is what doctors reach for in trauma situations.
• Type B negative: The blood type that can be transfused to type B Rh-positive and negative patients.
• Type AB: The plasma type that can be transfused to almost everyone and can be donated through a platelet or plasma donation, where available, or during a regular blood donation.

You can search for nearby opportunities to give blood by using the Red Cross’s ‘Find a Drive’ tool here.

This story was originally published January 23, 2018 at 10:05 AM with the headline "Blood shortage hits ‘critical’ level as flu and ice disrupt donations, Red Cross says."