Red Cross says Hurricane Debby causing blood supply issues

TOPEKA (KSNT) - The American Red Cross in Kansas said it has been experiencing a blood emergency following Hurricane Debby and other severe weather events.

On Monday, the American Red Cross out of Wichita said weather has complicated its efforts to rebuild the nation's blood supply.

"Weather in recent weeks has added to the summer shortfall in donations by forcing the cancellation of nearly 60 blood drives throughout the country, many of which were caused by Debby, causing approximately 1,500 lifesaving blood products to go uncollected," the American Red Cross wrote in a press release.

The Red Cross said it had canceled 167 blood drives over the last 10 years due to weather conditions. They said it caused over 650 donations to be uncollected in the Kansas and Oklahoma regions.

"This has resulted in over 650 donations going uncollected in the Kansas-Oklahoma region to date in 2024," the American Red Cross wrote. "Because blood has a short shelf life and can only come from volunteer blood donors, any disruptions in the ability to collect lifesaving blood can have serious consequences for hospitals and patients."

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