Emergency Blood Shortage: Severe Weather Further Strains Red Cross Blood Supply.

September 6, 2024
By Eve Copeland

The American Red Cross continues to experience a national blood emergency as remnants of Hurricane Debby and other severe weather events across the country have further complicated efforts to rebuild the nation’s blood supply. Those in unaffected areas are urged to make an appointment to donate now.

As a thank-you, all who come to give now through September 15 will get an exclusive Red Cross raglan T-shirt, while supplies last.

September 16-30, all who come to give will receive a $15 e-gift card to a merchant of choice. Visit RedCrossBlood.org/Fall for details.

Jane MacMillan, an account manager with the Red Cross, said that donations typically decrease during the summer months, but this year the numbers have been especially low.

Recent weather has added to the summer shortfall in donations by forcing the cancellation of nearly 60 blood drives throughout the country, many of which were caused by Debby, resulting in approximately 1,500 lifesaving blood products going uncollected.

Annually, severe weather—such as blizzards, tornadoes, flooding, and hurricanes—impacts about 90,000 blood donations made to the Red Cross. In Ohio, 763 blood drives have been canceled due to weather over the last 10 years, including 26 so far this year. This has resulted in about 270 donations going uncollected in the Central and Southern Ohio Region to date in 2024.

“Because blood has a short shelf life and can only come from volunteer blood donors, any disruptions in the ability to collect lifesaving blood can have serious consequences for hospitals and patients. First-time donors and those who give regularly are critical to blood supply recovery,” MacMillan said.

To make an appointment, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Those who come to donate between September 1-15 will receive an exclusive Red Cross raglan T-shirt and a $15 Amazon.com Gift Card by email. See RedCrossBlood.org/Help for details.

If you type your zip code into the search box in the upper right corner, you can browse upcoming drives to find one in your neighborhood that fits into your schedule.

MacMillan expressed appreciation for the various organizations that host blood drives:

• Dwayne R. Spence Funeral Home, Pickerington (September 10 – 10 am to 4 pm)
• Brockstrong Foundation at X Church, Canal Winchester (September 10 -12 pm to 6 pm)
• American Legion Post 283, Pickerington (September 11 – 12 pm to 6 pm)
• Pickerington Church of the Nazarene (September 12 – 1 pm to 6 pm)
• St. Pius Catholic Church, Reynoldsburg (September 12 – 12 pm to 6 pm)
• Columbus Metropolitan Library – Southeast Branch, Groveport (September 13 – 10 am to 4 pm)
• Fairfield Medical Center, Lancaster (September 13 – 10 am to 4 pm)
• Saint John XXIII Parish, Canal Winchester (September 14 – 7:30 am to 11:30 am)
• Lithopolis United Methodist Church (September 14 – 7:30 am to 12:00 pm)
• OhioHealth Pickerington Medica Campus (September 16 – 8:00 am to 6:00 pm)
• Crossroads, Lancaster (September 16 – 1:30 pm to 6:30 pm)

“We just couldn’t do this without them,” MacMillan said.

Prepare for Emergencies

September is National Preparedness Month, and a strong blood supply is key to preparedness for disasters and medical emergencies. As disasters occur more often and become more powerful due to the climate crisis, the Red Cross also encourages people to get their households ready for emergencies.

This year, the country has already seen the earliest Category 5 storm ever recorded with Hurricane Beryl, and wildfires have burned 1.5 million more acres compared to all of 2023. It’s important to build a customizable disaster plan and stay informed when devastation occurs.

Step-by-step resources on how to stay safe and prepare for emergencies are available on redcross.org/gethelp. Download the free Red Cross Emergency App for real-time weather alerts and expert preparedness and safety advice in both English and Spanish.