© 2024 Peoria Public Radio
A joint service of Bradley University and Illinois State University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

American Red Cross faces national blood shortage, resulting in the lowest levels in 10 years

 Joy Squier
WCBU
Joy Squier, communications officer for the Illinois region of the American Red Cross.

It’s no surprise to see an overall decrease in blood donations amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but the severity of that decline was unexpected.

Joy Squier, communications officer for the Illinois region of the American Red Cross, says a number of reasons could be contributing to the blood shortage, but the pandemic remains a key component.

“Blood is at the lowest levels as it has been in 10 years. Largely this is … probably an after effect of the pandemic and people trying to get back to normal and blood donations just not being top of mind,” said Squier.

Typically, the Red Cross collects blood at locations such as high schools, corporations, and universities. The pandemic closed a lot of those collection sites, which has required the Red Cross to change where they collect blood. Since then, it's been difficult to get the word out as the Red Cross remains at a dangerously low blood supply.

“It’s estimated that only about 3% of the population regularly donates blood. So, it's important to get the word out because you never know when you’re going to need blood,” explained Squier.

Red Cross is responsible for 40% of the nation's blood supply. That blood is then delivered to one of its 2,500 hospital partners across the country. If hospitals aren’t receiving enough blood, patients are the ones who ultimately deal with the consequences.

“Hospitals could cancel some elective treatments and that kind of thing … they have to be judicious about how they distribute blood,” Squier said.

Some hospitals have even been forced to defer patients from major surgery, such as organ transplants.

There’s a variety of reasons why a person may need to receive blood. These include birth traumas, cancer patients, conditions like sickle cell, and various accidents.

Squier says Illinoisans are a particularly important population to reach.

“I know in Illinois, we easily distribute, you know, a couple 100,000 units each year. Illinois is an area where we do lots of blood collection and blood distribution.”

Thus, in an effort to increase blood donations in Illinois and nationwide, the Red Cross is offering exclusive long-sleeved Red Cross T-shirts for all those who donate blood between Friday and Jan. 2. While incentives like these are a positive way to encourage more people to donate, Squier says the best incentive of them all isn’t something materialistic.

“But really the best incentive is knowing you're saving someone's life…you're helping somebody and it's the best around the holidays to help somebody and feel good about what you're doing.”

For those interested in donating, a blood donor app is available for download, which allows users to set up appointments, and track where their blood goes. Local blood drives can also be found on theAmerican Red Cross websiteby ZIP code.

Jody Holtz is WCBU's assistant program and development director, All Things Considered host, as well as the producer of WCBU’s arts and culture podcast Out and About.