The combined effect of the federal government shutdown, which forced the cancellation of blood drives, and the holiday season, when donations usually decrease, has led to a critically low three-day blood supply in the Washington-Baltimore region.
"Right now we're under a three-day supply for all major blood types," said Erika Ragland, a spokeswoman for the American Red Cross Greater Chesapeake and Potomac blood services region.
"Our type O-negative is under a day-and-a-half supply, and that is the universal blood type," Ms. Ragland said. "If we have some major disaster we would not be able to meet the needs of the community."
The Washington-Baltimore area seems to be one of the few areas nationally that is experiencing such a shortage.
"The rest of the country has what they would term adequate supply at the moment. We don't see a lot of people saying, 'I don't have any blood on the shelf' right now," said Eric Slayton, a spokesman for the American Association of Blood Banks.
"The Chesapeake and Potomac region does rely pretty heavily on the federal employee blood drives, and they're not getting those right now. So it is natural that they would be experiencing that right now," Mr. Slayton said.
Almost all blood banks see donations decline during the holidays. "We have people, because of holiday time, they're on vacation and they're not scheduling their regular donations," Ms. Ragland said. In addition, donors must wait 52 days between donations.
"So those people who did decide to give around Thanksgiving can't give again until next year," she said.
For an appointment to donate blood, call (800) GIVE-BLOOD.
