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The United States is suffering a 'national blood crisis' as many donation events have been cancelled due to Covid.
The rampant spread of Omicron has caused many people not to turn out for blood drives in recent weeks. Some drives are being cancelled all together due to staffing issues.
Schools, whether colleges or public high schools, form the backbone of many blood donation efforts, but many have been cancelled recently in the wake of Covid outbreaks.
Since collected blood only can be stored for around a month and a half, shocks in the blood supply chain - like a Covid outbreak - can quickly lead to crisis for hospitals and other blood centers.
The Red Cross issued a warning on Tuesday that the United States is currently suffering a 'blood crisis' due to shortages of blood donations. The organization says donations are down by 10% overall since the pandemic began, and donation drives at schools have been slashed 62%. (file photo)
Many people who have chronic conditions or blood-related medical issues need regular blood transfusions to manage their conditions. People who suffer trauma injuries will also often require blood to survive. Pictured: A woman in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, donates blood on January 4
'At a time when many businesses and organizations across
