Red Cross facing severe blood shortage as supply drops by 35%
Patrick Holleron
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The American Red Cross is facing a significant shortage in blood supply in the early phases of 2026.
Requests from hospitals have exceeded the current blood supply, leading to a drawdown of blood products by 35% within the past month.
The shortage is severely impacting blood requests for platelets and type O, as well as A negative and B negative blood types.
The Red Cross believes high flu cases across the country may be reducing available donors and thus further increasing the shortage. Experts have described this year as one of the worst flu seasons in 20 years.
About 400 blood drives were impacted due to extreme winter weather last month alone — more than three times the number of blood drives impacted during the same time the previous year.
As a thank you to donors for helping tackle the blood shortage, those who come to give through Jan. 25, 2026, will be automatically entered for a chance to win a trip for two to Super Bowl LX in the San Francisco Bay Area.
All who come to give Jan. 26-Feb. 28, 2026, will receive a $20 e-gift card to a merchant of choice. See RedCrossBlood.org/Heart for details.
Anyone wanting to donate blood or platelets can book an appointment through the Blood Donor App by going to RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).