The U.S. is running low on blood. Here's why that's dangerous

The American Red Cross is sounding the alarm about a critical shortage in the nation's blood supply, particularly type O positive, the most commonly transfused blood type. Per Axios, the Red Cross reports having less than a one-day national supply on hand — and donations have fallen to a four-year summer low. The shortage threatens to delay surgeries, trauma care, and other emergency treatments that depend on timely transfusions. The Red Cross is blaming extreme heat, poor air quality, and widespread foodborne illnesses for keeping donors away, Axios reports. This marks only the second national blood supply crisis in Red Cross history; the last occurred in January twenty twenty-two.

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