American Red Cross seeking emergency donations after blood supply drops 25%

The American Red Cross is experiencing a critical blood shortage as the nation faces dangerous levels of heat this summer.

Since July 1, the organization’s national blood supply has fallen by more than 25%, and donors of all blood types are urged to give as much as they can. American Red Cross of Virginia Communications Director Jonathan McNamara said numbers this year have dropped more than 19,000 in blood donations compared to this time last year.

“That has a real impact on our ability to deliver lifesaving blood to area hospitals,” McNamara said. “Whether it's mothers who have complications after childbirth, trauma victims, cancer patients, numbers of people who come into emergency rooms at hospitals across the Richmond area.”