The American Red Cross has declared its first-ever national blood crisis, warning that if donations don’t increase soon, life-saving blood may not be available to people who need it. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a decline in donor turnout, the cancellation of blood drives and staffing challenges. The historic shortage is the worst in more than a decade.
“The situation is really quite dire. Blood banks in hospitals operationally are used to having a certain minimum inventory. And based on that inventory, they are able to plan everything from surgeries, to the unknown,” said Sally Wells, Business Development Liaison of Blood Services at RWJ University Hospital & RWJBarnabas Health.
