Houston blood banks urge summer donations
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Houston-area blood banks are asking residents to roll up their sleeves during the summer blood donations slump.
Why it matters: The U.S. blood supply has reached crisis levels, prompting the American Red Cross and the surgeon general to urge Americans to donate before shortages delay surgeries, trauma care and other lifesaving treatments.
- Blood donations fell to a four-year summer low in 2026, the Red Cross said last week, adding it has "less than a one-day national supply of type O positive blood" — the most commonly transfused blood type — and is limiting distributions of type O blood to hospitals.
Driving the news: The Texas Gulf Coast Red Cross tells Axios that extreme heat, bad air quality and recent foodborne illnesses are contributing to lower donor turnout.
- "We strive to maintain a three-day blood supply for our hospitals, and we are only at half a day's supply. This is not ideal. We rely on the community to come and donate on a regular basis," a Texas Gulf Coast Red Cross representative said.
Zoom in: Gulf Coast Blood, a large blood provider in the Houston area, says it's continuing to meet local demand at 170 hospitals across 26 counties but needs about 1,000 donations every day to maintain a stable blood supply.
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, one of the largest blood-transfusing hospitals in the nation, said it is not currently experiencing a shortage of blood donations at its blood bank but noted it can be challenging to sustain the supply during summer months.
What they're saying: "Summer donation patterns can create challenges for blood availability, but our community has the opportunity to stay ahead of those challenges by making an appointment to donate," Stephanie Jacksis, corporate communications manager at Gulf Coast Blood, tells Axios.
- All blood types are needed, especially O negative and O positive, she said.
Between the lines: Blood products are essential to cancer care. Many patients — especially those with leukemia and lymphoma — rely on routine transfusions, and blood is also needed for surgeries and emergencies, per MD Anderson.
How it works: Find a donation center through Gulf Coast Blood, Red Cross or the MD Anderson Blood Center.