The American Red Cross issued an urgent call for blood donations Tuesday, citing a critical low in the national blood supply exacerbated by severe January weather conditions. According to David Mair, M.D., chief medical officer of Blood Services for the Red Cross East Central Bay and Central Atlantic divisions, thousands of blood and platelet donations have been uncollected nationwide due to the adverse weather.
In Michigan alone, 11 blood drives were canceled over the past two weeks, resulting in a shortfall of 285 units of blood. “Snow, ice, and extreme temperatures have significantly hindered our ability to transport vital blood products across the Red Cross network,” Dr. Mair expressed during a virtual news briefing. He emphasized the necessity to surpass the daily collection goal of 12,500 donations to address the shortage and fulfill patient needs nationwide.
The briefing, updating the emergency blood shortage initially announced on January 8, also featured insights from Jennifer Jones, M.D., assistant professor of Transfusion Medicine at Michigan Medicine, and Michelle Maxson, R.N., senior manager of Trauma Services at Hurley Medical Center. Both institutions highlighted the critical need for a well-stocked blood inventory to maintain their high standard of care and service.
Dr. Mair stressed the importance of the Red Cross mission in ensuring a sufficient blood supply for lifesaving patient care. “It is the blood on the shelves, made possible by donors, that truly makes a difference in emergency situations,” he stated.
Dr. Jones discussed the particular urgency for platelets, essential for blood clotting, which are often in short supply at Michigan Medicine, affecting patient care and treatment schedules. “In times of shortage, we are forced to delay transfusions or divide blood units, which are far from ideal practices but necessary to maintain our inventory,” she explained. “On a day-to-day basis, as we’re walking around in our lives, platelets also help us stop bleeding if we become injured. Patients can develop low platelets under certain circumstances like if someone has a cancer diagnosis and they are recovering from chemotherapy, if patients are critically ill in the ICU (intensive care unit) and that can include newborn babies or patients that require large surgeries like aortic repairs, or an organ transplant, or a neurosurgery.”
Maxson, representing Hurley Medical Center, a Level One trauma center, highlighted the critical dependence on a steady blood supply for emergency care, especially for trauma patients requiring significant blood transfusions.
The Red Cross encourages eligible donors to schedule an appointment through their Blood Donor App, the RedCrossBlood.org website, or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS. In a special incentive, donors contributing by January 31 have a chance to win a trip for two to the Super Bowl in February, including airfare, hotel accommodations, and a $1,000 gift card. February donors will receive a $20 Amazon gift card via email, as part of the ongoing efforts to replenish the critically low blood supply.
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