The American Red Cross (ARC) has declared the second-ever national blood supply crisis as donations have fallen to a four-year summer low. On Monday, July 30th, 2026, the 145-year-old non-profit, the largest single provider of blood products in the United States, reported having less than one day’s national supply of type O positive blood—the most commonly transfused blood type.

Type O positive blood accounts for about 60% of the ARC’s blood distributions and can be given to approximately 80% of patients. It is used in both everyday patient care and medical emergencies. The ARC emphasized that preserving type O blood is critical for patients with type O blood and for life-threatening emergencies when there isn’t time to determine a patient’s blood type.

Despite thousands responding to donation calls, blood donations have not kept pace with hospital demand, which increases during the summer trauma season. The ARC cited major heat, poor air quality, and widespread foodborne illnesses—likely linked to a cyclosporiasis outbreak suspected to have affected more than 11,500 people across the US—as factors contributing to lower donor turnout this summer.

The ARC stated that just three additional donors at each blood drive this summer could end the crisis and stabilize the blood supply. Earlier in July, the Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies Interorganizational Task Force on Domestic Disasters and Acts of Terrorism described the US blood supply as "significantly lower than it should be."

Approximately 62% of the US population, roughly 212 million people, are eligible to donate blood, according to America’s Blood Centers.

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