A woman donates blood at an American Red Cross Blood Donation Center in Boston on July 14, 2026. Photo: Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
The U.S. blood supply has reached crisis levels, according to the American Red Cross, and local officials say that troubling trend extends to Tennessee.
Why it matters: A prolonged blood shortage could delay surgeries, trauma care and other treatments that depend on timely blood transfusions.
Threat level: The Red Cross says it has "less than a one-day national supply of type O positive blood," which is the most commonly transfused blood type.
Due to the shortage, the organization is limiting distribution of type O blood to hospitals.
Driving the news: Blood donations fell to a four-year summer low in 2026, the Red Cross said on Monday.
Flashback: This is only the second national blood supply crisis, according to the Red Cross.
The first was in January 2022 when COVID, winter storms and staffing challenges disrupted the nation's blood supply.
What they're saying: "All blood types are needed," Khristian Vickers with the Red Cross of Tennessee tells Axios.
Local donations are often routed to nearby needs, Vickers says, so when you donate, "you are helping your neighbor. You're helping your friend."
How it works: The Red Cross of Tennessee is sharing information on local drives on social media. Nashville-area donors can also stop by the donation center at 2201 Charlotte Ave. seven days a week.
