The nation’s donated blood supply is currently at critically low levels, and climate change is partly to blame. Extreme weather events such as floods, hurricanes, and wildfires have hampered blood collection and contributed to a nationwide shortage, according to the American Red Cross and other blood donation organizations.
Baia Lasky, medical director for the American Red Cross, explained that patient emergencies don’t stop, and people continue to get sick even during weather disasters. This poses a challenge for blood donation organizations when they are hit with extreme weather. The American Red Cross, which supplies 3,500 healthcare centers nationwide, has experienced a nearly 25 percent drop in its blood supply since August. They currently face a shortage of 30,000 units of blood, partly due to canceled donations caused by disasters.
In recent years, severe weather has increasingly disrupted blood collection efforts, with the American Red Cross canceling 1,300 blood drives in 2022 due to weather conditions, a 23 percent increase from the previous year. This past summer, the impact of extreme weather on the blood supply was even more significant. Hurricane Idalia alone prevented the collection of approximately 700 units of blood and platelets.
Climate change is intensifying these weather systems and making them more frequent, increasing the challenges faced by blood donation organizations. Unlike other medical supplies, blood cannot be replaced, and it has a limited shelf life. Red cells, which are used to help individuals urgently losing blood during trauma or surgery, only last for 42 days after donation. Platelets, crucial for treating certain cancers, last just five days.
The low blood supply this summer has caught the attention of the federal government, with the Department of Health and Human Services launching a campaign called Giving = Living to encourage donations in August. Assistant Secretary for Health Rachel Levine emphasized the critical role of a consistent supply of blood and plasma for the health of the nation.
Extreme weather events have always had some impact on blood donation efforts, but the current situation is exacerbated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Recurring donors are visiting blood centers less frequently, and recruiting new regular donors has become more challenging. Lockdowns caused the cancellation of donation drive events, which used to bring in hundreds of units of blood in a single day. These events have yet to return to pre-pandemic levels due to fewer employees working at offices where they might participate in a blood drive.
The shortage of blood supply is not only affecting those in need of blood but also other medical necessities. Natural disasters and storms disrupt the manufacture and supply of intravenous bags and equipment. Blood centers and hospitals are working to meet urgent patient demand, but severe blood shortages have led to the delay of elective surgeries to conserve blood for patients in critical conditions.
The impact of climate change on the health care supply chain, as seen previously with the shortage of intravenous bags after Hurricane Maria in 2017, highlights the need for policymakers to prioritize making the health care system more resilient to climate change and its associated disasters. However, individuals can also make a difference by donating blood regularly. Donations can help ensure that hospitals have an adequate blood supply even when local collections are canceled due to weather events.
By donating blood, individuals can support those impacted by storms, wildfires, and other extreme weather events, contributing to the health and well-being of their communities.
