By Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter<\/b><\/p>\n
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WEDNESDAY, Aug. 7, 2024 (HealthDay News) — This summer’s blistering temperatures have helped prompt an\u00a0emergency blood shortage, the American Red Cross has warned.<\/p>\n
Heat waves affected almost 100 blood drives last month, either by hurting turnout or forcing the events to be canceled. Since July 1, the national blood supply has fallen by more than 25%, the organization said in a news release<\/a>.<\/p>\n Blood donations do tend to\u00a0slow\u00a0down\u00a0during the summer because of travel and holidays, but the Red Cross noted that last month’s extreme heat contributed to a shortfall of more than 19,000 blood donations in July.<\/p>\n Donated blood is used routinely during operations and childbirths. The Red Cross has said donations help save the lives of women with pregnancy complications, patients with traumatic injuries and people fighting cancer and blood disorders.<\/p>\n \u00e2\u0080\u009cWorking with patients who critically need a blood\u00a0transfusion,\u00a0I can\u00e2\u0080\u0099t imagine blood not being available for someone I cared about and [who] needed\u00a0it, especially a new mom or an infant that was needing a transfusion,\u00e2\u0080\u009d Melissa\u00a0Destross, a registered nurse in the labor and delivery unit at a hospital in Detroit,\u00a0said in the Red Cross news release. \u00e2\u0080\u009cI\u00e2\u0080\u0099ve seen moms in a hemorrhage situation, post-delivery, have massive\u00a0blood transfusions, like blood losses over seven liters.\u00e2\u0080\u009d<\/p>\n The Red Cross said type O blood is urgently needed. Type O blood is routinely in short supply because type O positive is the most common blood type, and type O negative is the universal blood type needed for emergency transfusions.<\/p>\n \u00e2\u0080\u009cType O is especially\u00a0important for people injured in accidents and other trauma who receive emergency\u00a0care,\u00e2\u0080\u009d Dr. Barry Siegfried<\/a>,\u00a0medical director of the Red Cross Michigan Region, said in the Red Cross news release. \u00e2\u0080\u009cDonors of all blood types can help ensure hospital shelves are restocked to\u00a0prevent patient care from being impacted.\u00e2\u0080\u009d<\/p>\n People can donate blood by finding a local blood drive or making an appointment at a donation center (which can be found by visiting\u00a0RedCrossBlood.org<\/a>\u00a0or calling 1-800-RED-CROSS).<\/p>\n Those who donate by Aug. 31 will receive a $20 Amazon gift card, the Red Cross added.<\/p>\n More information<\/strong><\/p>\n The American Red Cross has more on the blood donation process<\/a>.<\/p>\n SOURCE: American Red Cross, news release, Aug. 6, 2024<\/p>\n <\/i><\/p>\n