American Red Cross desperate for blood donations nationwide and in Nebraska

The American Red Cross is asking for blood donations after transfusions fall to a four-year low.

Read the full article on KETV 7

American Red Cross faces shortage in nationwide, Nebraska blood banks

OMAHA, Neb. —

Low donation turnout continues to plague blood banks not just in Nebraska, but nationwide.

Blood is the lifeline of the medical field and has many uses, ranging from cancer treatments to blood transfusions.

The American Red Cross helps supply blood across the country so those services can happen.

But now, the organization is issuing a warning only done one other time in the Red Cross’s history.

“It’s escalated to a crisis situation for multiple reasons. First of all, our supply is down. We’ve seen less donors coming in the summer. This has led hospitals to ask for more blood,” Josh Murphy, American Red Cross, comms director, said.

Donations have fallen to a four-summer low, which is making the current blood shortage worse.

Now, all blood types are needed, including type O blood.

“We’ve seen this across the nation where we’re having trouble filling those gaps because we’re all in a similar boat,” Murphy said.

Murphy also said that the need for blood is unpredictable.

“It could be someone you know. It could be someone in an accident, going through cancer treatment who needs it. And I think if it was me, in that case, I want to make sure that blood is on the shelves there. This will make it easier to help you, someone you know, or someone you don’t know,” Murphy said.

Murphy said that O positive blood type supplies have dropped to below one day’s worth of supply.

Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google Search.