>>American Red Cross Declares National Blood Shortage
(Washington, DC) -- The American Red Cross is declaring a national blood shortage. The organization says the country's blood supply has dropped by almost 25-percent since early last month. The Red Cross warns the shortage could potentially threaten the medical care of patients with critical conditions such as cancer and sickle cell disease or those who have an emergency need for blood. Natural disasters like Hurricane Idalia are being blamed by the Red Cross for hindering efforts to collect blood. The Red Cross is monitoring Hurricane Lee and how it may impact the Northeast this week.