The lack of labor to carry out the blood drives also curtailed the ability to collect blood. Additionally, there is a shortage of workers to transport the blood across the country. There has been a 10% decline in blood donations since March 2020, including a 62% drop in college and high school blood drives. This group made up about 25% of all donors in 2019, according to the American Red Cross’s website. This scenario has forced hospitals to closely monitor blood use in the event blood supplies drop off, according to UW Health Surgeon Dr. Ann O’ Rourke.
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