Red Cross Reports Blood-Supply Shortages Nationwide

Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, resident John Moss Wathen IV has an academic background in aerospace engineering and a passion for aviation. Also active in his community, John Wathen IV received the Centre County American Red Cross Richard H. Baker Leadership Award in 2017 for his sustained volunteer work.

The American Red Cross is responsible for two-fifths of the nation’s blood supply. As reported by CBS in Pittsburgh, in October 2021 the Red Cross post-summer blood supply reached its lowest level in six years. A major contributor was lingering pandemic restrictions. Businesses and schools were unable to host blood drives.

While CBS reports that regional health providers and networks have enough supply to maintain basic care, there is an acute need for platelets and type O blood. Across the nation, many states are experiencing more significant shortages, with people in need of blood ranging from vehicle accident victims to cancer ward patients. The Red Cross urges donors to give blood as many times as they reasonably can, instead of viewing blood donations as simple “one-and-done” activities.