The American Red Cross announced it is experiencing a national emergency shortage of blood, and the number of people giving blood is at a 20-year low.
The Red Cross contributes about 40% of the nation’s blood supply.
The organization said there was a nearly 7,000-unit shortfall in blood donations between Christmas and New Year’s Day alone, which can have drastic consequences for people who are in need of lifesaving transfusions.
An uptick in respiratory illnesses and inclement weather have also contributed.
Joanne Nowlin, CEO of the Los Angeles Regional American Red Cross, said Thursday that the organization gave area hospitals notice in December that unless more blood was collected, it could affect local hospital operations.
“If we cannot provide enough blood, then those really important elective surgeries start getting put off,” Nowlin said. “Delaying care that they need so that we can retain the blood supply for those trauma patients.”
Red Cross officials did not provide specifics on the size of the blood shortage in L.A. County.
According to the organization, the average red blood cell transfusion is approximately three units, and a single car accident victim can require as many as 100 units of blood. About one unit of blood, roughly a pint, is collected during a typical donation.
“There is no replacement for blood,” Nowlin said. ”The only source for those hospital needs is a donor’s arm.”
Storms across the country also closed many traditional blood drive locations in recent weeks.
“In L.A. in particular, we have the opportunity to do more, because we’re blessed with some pretty great weather,” Nowlin said.
The holiday slump…
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