The American Red Cross is experiencing severe blood shortages as the number of trauma cases, organ transplants and elective surgeries rise — and deplete the nation’s blood inventory, the organization says.
For starters, there is an increasing hospital demand for blood as some patients who previously deferred care during the COVID-19 pandemic now need more transfusions. Also, hospitals are responding to an atypically high number of traumas and emergency room visits, as well as overdoses and resulting transplants, the Red Cross said.
In comparison to 2019, the Red Cross has seen red cell demand from trauma centers climb by 10 percent in 2021 — more than five times the growth of other providers of transfusions.
The Red Cross said 20 to 40 percent of trauma deaths that occur after hospital admission involve massive hemorrhaging, and doctors need a secure blood supply to take care of it. As a result, hospitals may need hundreds of blood products — which deepens the severity of the trauma.
However, due to the shortages, some hospitals are being forced to slow the pace of elective surgeries until the blood supply stabilizes, delaying crucial patient care.
Over the last three months, the Red Cross has distributed about 75,000 blood products — far more than what had been expected to meet these needs — and, as a result, significantly decreasing its national blood supply.
All blood types are needed, particularly type O, as well as platelets. With less than half a day’s supply of type-O blood in recent weeks, there is an emergency need for those donors specifically. Type O is the most needed blood group by hospitals. It is also the most transfused blood type and can be transfused to Rh-positive patients of any blood type.
Type-O negative is the “universal blood type,” and it’s what emergency room personnel reach for when there is no time to determine the blood type of patients in the most serious situations.
There is also an emergency need for platelets, the clotting agent in blood, which must be transfused within five days of donation. Nearly half of all platelet donations are given to patients undergoing cancer treatments
As many people return to pre-pandemic activities and resume travel to visit loved ones, the Red Cross asks the public to remember the needs of patients this summer. Blood is perishable and cannot be stockpiled.
To donate, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
Those who have received a COVID-19 vaccine are still eligible to donate blood and platelets. Knowing the name of the manufacturer of the vaccine they receive is important in determining blood-donation eligibility.
The Red Cross is hosting two blood drives in Lynn this month: Tuesday, July 6 from 2 to 7 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus on Lynnfield Street and Thursday, July 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Demakes Family YMCA.
Those interested may register at redcrossblood.org. Individuals interested in organizing a blood drive at their organization can contact Northeastern Red Cross board member David J. Solimine Jr. at 781-953-4832.
