Climate Crisis Impacts Blood Supply in the U.S

The American Red Cross has issued a stark warning regarding the impact of the climate crisis on the medical blood supply in the United States. Record-breaking heat this summer has contributed to a significant blood shortage, with over 130 million Americans under heat advisories in July. The organization reported that nearly 100 blood drives were adversely affected by the extreme weather, leading to a shortfall of more than 19,000 donations. This decline has resulted in a national blood inventory drop of over 25%, while hospital demand for blood products remains steady. Rodney Wilson, a senior biomedical communications specialist for the American Red Cross, highlighted the urgency of the situation, stating that the rapid decrease in blood supply limits the organization’s ability to fulfill hospital requests. The number of canceled blood drives due to heat and extreme weather has increased compared to last year, further straining the already dwindling resources. The Red Cross, which supplies approximately 40% of the nation’s blood, is facing unprecedented challenges in meeting the needs of hospitals. The situation has been exacerbated by recent weather events, including Hurricane Debby, which caused flooding and power outages in the southeastern U.S., leading to additional blood drive cancellations. Wilson noted that summer months are particularly challenging for blood donations, as schools—typically responsible for about 20% of donations—are closed. As the climate crisis continues to unfold, the Red Cross emphasizes the critical role of blood donations in modern medicine, underscoring the urgent need for community support to ensure that lifesaving blood is available for patients in need.