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Updated on: September 9, 2026 / 11:32 AM EDT
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The American Red Cross declared its second-ever national blood supply crisis this summer amid a shortage that's threatening patients around the country. Blood has a short shelf life, and only 3% of eligible donors give blood regularly. Summer accidents and emergencies can put an already-strained stock at risk, and regular donors may skip their appointments, compounding the problem. We sat down with Dr. Courtney Lawrence, a divisional chief medical officer at the organization, to talk about the importance of blood donation, the myths and facts around the process and how donating can reveal information about your own health. How blood shortages put women at risk Women can be more affected by a blood crisis than men, because they are more likely to need a transfusion, Lawrence said. There are a number of reasons why. Women have lower hemoglobin than men, on average. Hemoglobin levels are one of the pieces of data doctors use to determine when a blood transfusion should be done. Because women's levels are lower on average, there "can be a period where they're more likely to need blood transfusion," Lawrence explained. There are also certain risk periods, like pregnancy, where women are more prone to anemia, and childbirth, where emergencies may necessitate a blood transfusion, Lawrence said. The key health information blood donation reveals Blood donors undergo a brief health screening before each donation. It collects data about a person's weight, blood pressure and other data about their blood. Donors who use the Red Cross app can even track that data.
