There’s a National Blood Supply Crisis Happening Right Now - Gizmodo

What the report says

Gizmodo reported that the American Red Cross declared a national blood crisis on Monday, July 27, 2026, saying U.S. blood and platelet supplies have dropped to unsafe levels. The organization is asking eligible people to make donation appointments immediately, with an especially urgent need for O-positive donors. Red Cross Biomedical Services President Chris Hrouda said in the organization’s statement that summer donations are not matching hospital need and that type O inventories are under heavy pressure.

According to the report, this is only the second time the Red Cross has made such a declaration, following its first national blood crisis in January 2022 during the covid-19 Omicron wave. The Red Cross had already issued a national blood emergency on July 13 after a 25% drop in the blood supply the previous month, but Gizmodo said the shortage has continued to deepen. Recent donation levels have reached a four-year summer low while hospital demand remains elevated.

The Red Cross cited extreme heat, poor air quality and widespread foodborne illnesses as factors that may be keeping donors away. Summer also typically brings more traumatic injuries that can require transfusions. The report said O-positive blood, the most commonly transfused type, is now at less than a one-day supply, prompting the Red Cross to restrict some type O distributions to hospitals. Platelets are also in emergency shortage, and their short shelf life makes steady donations particularly important.

The Red Cross supplies about 40% of the U.S. blood supply, while other blood collection groups cover much of the rest. Gizmodo noted that the Red Cross, the Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies, and America’s Blood Centers recently issued a joint appeal for more donors. The concern is that hospitals may have to ration scarce blood products, potentially affecting urgent and life-saving care.