AHA urges members to encourage blood donations

The American Hospital Association this week encouraged hospitals and health systems to urge eligible individuals in their communities to make an appointment to donate blood or platelets at their nearest blood collection location. The request follows concerns from the American Red Cross, America’s Blood Centers and the Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies about the nation’s low blood supply levels. The blood organizations said this summer’s record heat, as well as recent disruptions in blood collections in the Southeast United States, including a cyberattack on OneBlood and the Tropical Storm Debby, have created additional challenges for blood collection. (AHA News article, 8/8/24)