LOS ANGELES, July 28 (Xinhua) -- The American Red Cross has declared its second-ever national blood supply crisis after blood donations fell to a four-year summer low.
The Red Cross said Monday that it had begun limiting type O blood distributions to individual hospitals as demand continued to outpace donations.
It now has less than a one-day national supply of type O positive blood, the organization said in a statement.
Type O positive blood is the most commonly transfused blood type, accounting for some 60 percent of Red Cross blood distributions and can be safely given to about 80 percent of patients, it said.
Extreme heat, poor air quality and widespread foodborne illnesses are contributing to lower donor turnout this summer, further straining the nation's blood supply, said the statement.
Chris Hrouda, president of Red Cross Biomedical Services, said the organization, the largest single provider of blood products in the United States, has "worked tirelessly" to strengthen the blood supply for its hospital partners.
"Every donation has the potential to help save lives, and we urgently need everyone who is eligible to make an appointment to give blood as soon as possible," he said.
The Red Cross declared its first national blood crisis in January 2022 as the United States grappled with the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. ■