Credit: BloodDonorMonth.org

Someone needs a blood transfusion every two seconds in the United States, according to the American Red Cross. 

Each January is National Blood Donor Month. This month, the nation’s blood supplies are significantly strained following a holiday season rife with severe weather events and seasonal illnesses such as a record-breaking number of flu cases that hampered donor turnout and the organization’s collections.

And without immediate action, the strain “could force doctors to make difficult decisions about which patients receive lifesaving blood transfusions and whose care may need to wait,” American Red Cross biomedical communications director Jessa Merrill said via email.

Blood donation rates among people of color are a particular concern. Although nearly 40 percent of the U.S. population identifies as non-white, people of color make up approximately 12 percent of donations (Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (0.2); Native American or Alaska Native (0.5); Black (2.7); Asian (3.0); and Hispanic or Latino populations (5.8), according to America’s Blood Centers data.

America’s Blood Centers, the Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies and the Red Cross, blood donor month partners, say a diverse blood donor base helps ensure patients receive the most compatible blood products. That can be important for patients suffering with conditions such as Sickle Cell Disease, some who need monthly transfusions, and who are disproportionately Black. 

The current state of the nation’s blood inventory reflects a long-term trend of declining blood donation rates, set off by the COVID-19 pandemic. And while COVID-19 is now considered endemic, the blood supply community “is still feeling its effects years after its transmission peak,” said Dr. Claudia Cohn, Chief Medical Officer at Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies.

Merrill said that in 2021, there were about 260,000 Red Cross donors ages 18 to 21, less than half the number who donated two years earlier.

“A lot of donations occur at schools, so those students are great donors. But they drop off when they graduate,” Cohn said.

There is also a difference, Cohn said, in blood donation culture among generations, with Baby Boomers outgiving other age groups. But their donations are declining because they are now patients.

Although the U.S. blood inventory is more stable after low pandemic-era levels there are “always pockets of great need,” Cohn said.

For instance, according to the Red Cross, 62 percent of the U.S. population is eligible to donate blood but only three percent actually do. Misconceptions about safety, being previously ineligible due to travel or medication, or time commitment could be the cause.

“The blood donation process is simple and safe and is administered by highly trained staff; and the time commitment ranges from approximately 20 minutes for whole blood to up to two hours for double red blood cells or platelets,” Cohn said.

Cohn said medical mistrust keeps some racial and ethnic groups from donating. And one study found that accessibility issues, language barriers, and cultural disconnects cause low blood donation disparities among South Asians.

Merrill said the Red Cross addresses donor diversity with its Sickle Cell Initiative to gain more Black American blood donors whose blood is “nearly three times as likely to be a match than other donors.” And its Latino Engagement program has increased Latinos’ participation and high-in-demand Type O blood.

Cohn recommended people considering giving blood should pair it with annual celebrations.

“They should make it an annual thing to be a regular donor on their birthday, or their spouse’s or child’s birthday. They should make it a regular part of their behavior,” Cohn said.

HOW YOU CAN HELP INCREASE THE U.S. BLOOD SUPPLY

1. Learn why the blood supply is important and make time to give- Visit RedCrossBlood.org, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, or call 1-800-RED CROSS.

 2. If you already made a January 2026 donation, share your donation story on social media with one of these Blood Donor Month graphics.

3. Spread the word. Tell your social circle that giving blood (whole, red cells, platelets, plasma) is safe, easy and saves lives.

4. Check your eligibility to give at RedCrossBlood.org/eligibility.

5. Learn about the different blood types and the importance of knowing yours.

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