CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, Ill. (Chambana Today) — The American Red Cross is facing a severe blood shortage after its national blood supply dropped by about 35% over the past month, prompting an urgent call for donors across central Illinois and the nation.
Requests from hospitals are currently outpacing available blood products, a situation the Red Cross attributes to widespread flu activity and extreme winter weather that has sidelined donors and disrupted blood drives. The shortage is especially critical for platelets and blood types O, A negative and B negative.
High flu activity in nearly every state has slowed donation efforts just as hospitals confront one of the worst flu seasons in nearly 20 years. As a result, some hospitals are being forced to carefully triage blood use, raising concerns for patients who rely on transfusions, including trauma victims, mothers during childbirth, and individuals with cancer or sickle cell disease.
Winter weather has further strained supplies. About 400 blood drives nationwide were impacted by severe weather last month alone — more than three times the number affected during the same period last year — resulting in thousands of uncollected donations.
“Winter always puts pressure on the blood supply, and this year widespread flu and rough weather are making it even tougher,” said Paul Sullivan, senior vice president of Red Cross donor services. “Every donation can be a lifeline for a patient who can’t wait for critical care.”
The Red Cross is urging eligible donors to schedule appointments as soon as possible through the Blood Donor App, RedCrossBlood.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS.
As an incentive, donors who give through Jan. 25 will be entered for a chance to win a trip for two to Super Bowl LX in the San Francisco Bay Area. Those who donate between Jan. 26 and Feb. 28 will receive a $20 e-gift card to a merchant of choice.
Numerous blood drives are scheduled throughout central Illinois in the coming weeks, including locations in Champaign-Urbana, Bloomington-Normal, Peoria, Pontiac, Pekin and surrounding communities, as well as daily donation hours at Red Cross blood centers in Bloomington and Peoria.
The American Red Cross supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood and depends on volunteer donors to meet hospital needs. Officials warn that without immediate action, patients may face delays in lifesaving care.