Citing a four-year summer low, the American Red Cross reports it now has less than a one-day stock of type O blood. That's on the national level.
Here in Central Kentucky, the Kentucky Blood Center says the picture isn't quite so dire. But supplies are low. KBC spokesperson Eric Lindsay says that's mostly a function of two factors that are typical in the summer. Fewer donations and greater demand at hospitals during the warm months when people are taking vacations but also engaging in activities that could send them to the hospital.
"You've got two numbers kind of going in opposite directions. We're seeing fewer donations at the same time where we're seeing an increase in need from our hospital partners that we work with. So historically, we always see a strain this time of the year and summer 2026 is certainly no exception," he says.
We are facing a national blood crisis, with summer blood donations falling to a four-year low. Your help is needed now to avoid surgery delays, postponed cancer treatments and strained emergency care.
— American Red Cross (@RedCross) August 3, 2026
Just three more donors at each blood drive this summer can end this crisis and… pic.twitter.com/ffeemHv54l
Lindsay notes that it's difficult to predict just how much blood will be needed week to week in the more than 70 hospitals the KBC supplies.
"Yes, it's a typical summer and we're low. And I would say specifically the past few weeks, there's been higher transfusion activity which has put some strain on some specific blood types where to get to the point of what we're talking about, we need people to step up. We need people to be intentional about making appointments in the coming days to shore up some of these low levels," he says.
Specific blood types that been low locally include O positive, O negative, A negative, and B positive.
To schedule a donation, visit kybloodcenter.org. Donating only takes roughly 10 minutes, but an hour of time is needed to go through the registration and vetting process.