2026 National Blood Donor Month press conference highlights blood emergency

DULUTH, Minn. — The 2026 National Blood Donor Month press conference highlighted a critical blood shortage in Minnesota.

Over the past few weeks, blood donations fell 40% below hospital needs, leaving less than a two day supply of blood available for patients across the state.

Blood donations are typically down during the winter season, but this year’s donation rate is well below normal.

As a result, Memorial Blood Center declared a blood emergency for most in demand blood types.

One speaker shared about her young daughters life-saving blood transfusions during cancer treatment.

“She had 182 blood transfusions, and 152 of those were platelets, many of which were matched to her blood type, Jena Mertz, parent of a blood receipt said. “I’m so grateful for everybody that takes the time to donate once or donate as a lifetime donor, because you just never know when you’re going to need it and whose life you’re going to be saving.”

Hospitals rely on blood donations on a daily basis for a variety of situations, from traumas, surgeries, cancer patients and more.

“It can be as simple as one or two units for a routine open heart surgery, to as much as 50, to even I’ve seen close to 100 for a trauma patient, and when that happens, there is nothing that I can imagine be worse for my staff than opening that fridge and not being able to have a product available for a patient,” Jennifer Alaspa, Laboratory Administrative Director at Aspirus St. Luke’s said.

Blood donors can donate every 56 days, and platelet donors can give up to twice a month.