Drop in donations causes emergency shortage of Type O blood in county

Supply of type O blood, the most in-demand blood type for patients, recently dropped to an 18-month low

– Vitalant, a nonprofit blood services provider, reports that it is facing an emergency shortage of type O blood. This shortage comes after a 30% blood donation shortfall during the Fourth of July holiday week and overall low donor turnout this summer. The community blood center, which serves about 900 hospitals nationwide, including over 25 hospitals along the Central Coast, urges all eligible donors, especially those with type O blood, to make an appointment to donate in the coming days and weeks.

“No doctor should have to face the impossible choice of which patient receives the blood they need and who must wait,” Vitalant Chief Medical and Scientific Officer Ralph Vassallo, M.D., said. “There isn’t anything that can substitute for lifesaving blood donations from generous donors. Donors of all blood types continue to be urgently needed.”

The supply of type O blood, the most in-demand blood type for patients, recently dropped to an 18-month low. Type O blood is critical because of its universal use in life-or-death situations. O-negative blood can be transfused to patients of any blood type and is used by emergency room doctors when every second counts. O-positive blood can support anyone with a positive blood type. Approximately 46% of the population has type O blood.

Extreme heat affecting much of the country and summer vacations are likely contributing to low donor turnout during “trauma season,” when injuries from outdoor activities can increase. Blood donations during the Fourth of July holiday week dropped about 30% overall from weekly averages, resulting in approximately 7,500 fewer donations than needed. This shortfall is on top of about 8,000 fewer donations than needed in June.

Thousands of donation appointments are available at air-conditioned Vitalant donation centers and community blood drives in the coming days and weeks. Donors of all blood types, especially those with type O, are urged to make an appointment at vitalant.org, download and use the Vitalant app, or call (877) 258-4825.

To help encourage donations and overcome the shortage, through July 27, donors will automatically be entered to win a new car valued up to $30,000.

Vitalant is one of the nation’s largest nonprofit blood and biotherapies healthcare organizations, providing hospitals and patients across the U.S. with a safe blood supply, specialized laboratory services, transfusion medicine expertise, and world-renowned research. Individuals generously donating blood, volunteering, and giving financially are essential to Vitalant’s lifesaving mission. Learn more at vitalant.org.