US blood inventory drops 25% as heat, wildfires and illness curb donations

Hospitals weigh trauma diversions as Red Cross draws down reserves

The American Red Cross has declared a national blood supply “crisis” for only the second time in its 150-year history, as extreme weather and a widespread foodborne illness have left supplies low at the peak of summer demand.

Inventory levels fell 25% in July alone, according to Dr. Courtney Lawrence, who works with the organization. With hospitals typically seeing more trauma cases during warmer months — from car crashes to outdoor injuries — the Red Cross is distributing about 3,500 more units than it normally would at this time of year and drawing “very, very low into our blood inventory,” Lawrence told the BBC.

Some hospitals are considering whether they may need to divert patients to other trauma centers if they cannot keep enough blood on hand to support emergency operations, Lawrence said. Routine surgeries could also be affected.

Several overlapping events have driven the shortage. Prolonged high temperatures have made people reluctant to leave their homes, and some blood-drive sites have struggled to maintain safe, comfortable conditions. Wildfires across the country have disrupted community donation events and diverted personnel and resources. On top of that, a widespread outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a parasitic foodborne illness, has further reduced donor availability, according to the Red Cross.

The organization noted that blood cannot be stockpiled far in advance because donated red cells degrade and must be used within 42 days. Supplies of all blood types are needed, but demand for O positive — the most common type and critical in trauma care — is especially acute.

The only other time the Red Cross declared a blood “crisis” was in January 2022, during the Covid-19 pandemic and a period of severe winter weather. The current summer shortage is unfolding as blood supplies in Canada have also dropped nearly 20% since early June. Canadian Blood Services said appointments fell short by 1,500 to 2,500 each week over the past six weeks, leaving “limited days on hand of several blood types — levels that are not sustainable for patient care should this trend not reverse itself.” Unlike in the United States, the reason for the Canadian decline remains unknown, the agency said.