Winter storms forced the cancelation of more than 530 American Red Cross blood drives in January, leading to as many as 15,000 blood and platelet donations going uncollected in the first month of the year. In the month of January, the Red Cross canceled nearly as many blood drives due to severe weather than it did for the entire calendar year of 2023.
Since the beginning of the year, blood drives have been canceled in nearly every state where the Red Cross collects blood and blood products are currently going out to hospitals faster than blood donations are coming in.
The weather issues came at a time when the Red Cross was already seeing an emergency blood shortage across the country, a situation that still exists. Normal winter challenges such as seasonal illnesses ─ namely the flu and COVID-19 ─ and the possibility of additional winter storms could add to an already critical situation.
The Red Cross must collect an additional 8,000 blood donations each week over the next few weeks to recover from the current blood shortage. While all blood types are needed, platelet donors and type O blood donors are urgently needed.
RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
