Emergency declared as American Red Cross runs out of blood for life-saving donations

A blood shortage emergency has been declared in the US and people are being urged to donate blood to help replenish the supply.

According to the American Red Cross, supplies fell by 25 percent in July as extreme heat across much of the country caused fewer people to show up at donation centers.

At the same time, however, it was stated that demand from hospitals had remained constant, putting significant pressure on supplies.

The organization is facing a shortage of blood group O, the most common blood group, and supplies are now below the ‘comfort level’ for hospitals.

They are also providing less blood of this blood type to hospitals to counteract shrinking supplies.

More to come…

The US has declared a blood supply emergency