According to the World Health Organization, there are 118.5 million blood donations collected globally each year. Of those donations, 6.8 million are collected from donors in the United States, representing around 6% of the world’s total supply of donated blood.
However, the American Red Cross estimates only 3% of eligible Americans donate blood. Seasonal fluctuations in blood donations can lead to shortages at hospitals and emergency rooms, which place patients at risk.
OhioHealth Hematopathologist David S. Socha says that while blood shortages aren’t uncommon and most don’t significantly affect patients, severe shortages of blood products such as red blood cells, plasma and platelets can have knock-on effects…