The Fox News Rundown Evening Edition: National Blood Supply At Critically Low Levels
Jan 31, 2026
Dr. Courtney Lawrence, Division Chief Medical Officer at the American Red Cross, is a transfusion medicine expert coordinating national blood collection. She discusses a 35% drop in the national supply due to flu and storms. The conversation covers canceled drives, who needs blood, platelet shortages and short shelf lives, and how people can safely donate now to help restore supplies.
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National Blood Inventory Fell Sharply
- The Red Cross national blood inventory dropped more than a third due to flu and widespread winter storms.
- That decline leaves the system critically below expected and planned supply levels.
Storms Cancelled Hundreds Of Drives
- Winter cancellations recently wiped out more than 500 blood drives, costing about 15,000 donated blood products.
- Weather-related cancellations directly translate into large, immediate shortfalls in usable blood products.
Blood Is Needed Across Many Medical Uses
- Blood supports cancer patients, people with blood disorders, childbirth complications, accidents, and surgical emergencies.
- Low inventory forces providers into difficult choices and can delay optimal care for noncritical cases.