The National Blood Shortage

Dr. Elliott Bennett-Guerrero

The National Blood Shortage

Dr. Elliott Bennett-Guerrero is the Director of Perioperative Clinical Research at Duke University's Duke Clinical Research Institute. Dr. Bennett-Guerrero is also board-certified in Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, and understands the critical role that donated blood plays within the operating theater and ICU.

The National Blood Shortage

The American Red Cross this past summer experienced the largest dearth of blood donations recorded in the last 15 years. While it is typical for the organization to see a slowdown in giving over the summer months due to school closings and vacationing, the organization was already struggling at the end of June to keep up with demand. Officials credited the unusual heat as well as the mid-week Fourth of July holiday as two unexpected hindrances to blood bank depositing.

The National Blood Shortage

Supplies of blood are regularly needed to manage the need of emergency healthcare providers and hospitals not only for the specific treatment of blood related illnesses but also to support the work of doctors and nurses within the operating room. The summer’s shortage left many across the country suspending elective surgeries in favor of periods when blood stores would rise. January is National Blood Donor month, and it is again a time of year where maintaining donation quotas can be difficult.