When a Habersham County woman recently prepared for an important surgery, she expected anxiety.
She did not expect to be sent home.
Doctors informed her that her procedure would have to be postponed — not because of her health, but because there wasn’t enough blood available to safely perform the procedure.
“It was overwhelming,” she said. “You prepare yourself mentally, and then you’re told it can’t happen because there isn’t enough blood. It really makes you think.”
Her surgery was delayed until adequate blood supply was available.
Her experience underscores a growing problem affecting hospitals across Georgia and the nation: a severe blood shortage that continues to strain patient care.
A Severe Shortage — Worsened by Winter Weather
“The American Red Cross is actually facing a severe blood shortage across the country right now,” said Katie Zwerk, Regional Communications Director for the Red Cross of Georgia. “We really are urging people to take action to help offset that.”
Winter weather has significantly slowed efforts to rebuild the supply.
In Georgia alone, more than 600 blood product donations went uncollected due to recent snow and ice.
Nationwide, more than 20,000 blood and platelet donations went uncollected because of winter storms earlier this year.
And the impact is ongoing.
Recent blizzard conditions along the East Coast forced the cancellation of more than 60 blood drives from Washington, D.C. to Maine, resulting in approximately 2,000 additional blood and platelet donations going uncollected.
“Individuals who are not impacted by the storm are urged to give now to prevent disruptions in patient care,” the Red Cross said in a recent update.
In other words: if you can safely donate, now is the time.
All Blood Types Needed
The shortage is not limited to one specific blood type.
“We especially need type O, type A negative, and type B negative,” Zwerk said. “But donors of all blood types are asked to make a donation as soon as possible.”
As the organization responsible for about 40% of the nation’s blood supply, the Red Cross has the ability to transport blood where it is most urgently needed.
“We always try to meet patient needs locally,” Zwerk explained. “But as a national organization, we have the capability of transporting supplies where patient need is greatest.”
Blood Can’t Be Manufactured
Unlike many medical supplies, blood cannot be produced in a lab.
“It can’t be manufactured. It can’t be stockpiled,” Zwerk said. “It’s truly the blood on the shelves right now that helps in an emergency or life-threatening situation.”
When those shelves are low, hospitals must make difficult decisions — sometimes delaying surgeries, as one Habersham resident experienced.
Blood is used for:
- Surgeries
- Cancer treatments
- Trauma cases
- Childbirth emergencies
- Chronic illness care
A Simple Process — and a Health Bonus in March
Many potential donors hesitate because they assume donating is time-consuming.
It isn’t.
“If you go in to give whole blood, it takes about an hour from start to finish,” Zwerk said. “But you’re really only in the chair for about 10 minutes.”
The remainder includes answering health questions and a mini-physical to check vitals.
“You feel good leaving and knowing that you’re helping somebody,” she said. “And oftentimes, you never know if that somebody is going to be your neighbor, a friend, or even you yourself.”
To help encourage donations, the Red Cross is offering additional incentives in March:
- Free A1C testing for successful donors
- A $15 Amazon Gift Card by email for those who donate March 1–31
New data shows that 1 in 5 blood donors have elevated A1C levels, an indicator of prediabetes or diabetes — often without symptoms.
The test does not require fasting and results are available within one to two weeks through the Red Cross Blood Donor App or online portal.
How to Donate in Northeast Georgia
Residents can schedule an appointment by:
- Visiting RedCrossBlood.org
- Calling 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767)
- Downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App
The app also allows donors to see when their blood has been delivered to a hospital.
For the Habersham woman whose surgery was postponed, the experience changed her perspective.
“It makes you realize that something as simple as donating blood could mean someone else doesn’t have to wait.”
Sometimes the difference between proceeding with surgery and postponing it is simply whether enough blood is on the shelf.
One donation takes about an hour.
Ten minutes in the chair.
And it may mean that the next neighbor who walks into a hospital doesn’t have to walk back out waiting.
