Blood donation Coverage

Only 3% of US adults donate blood despite national shortage. Here's how Raleigh is doing

In 2023, WRAL anchor Renee Chou donated blood five times. This year, she's aiming for six times.

Jessica Patrick, WRAL senior multiplatform producer

WRAL's Renee Chou explains why she gave blood 5 times last year

In 2023, WRAL anchor Renee Chou donated blood five times. This year, she's aiming for six times.

American Red Cross declares emergency blood shortage with lowest donations in 20 years

The American Red Cross is experiencing an emergency blood shortage as the nation faces the lowest number of people giving blood in 20 years.

WRAL staff

'Making history': Gay couple first to give blood after rules change

The new guidance, issued in May 2023, will now ask potential donors to answer the same set of questions assessing their human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk, regardless of their gender or sexual orientation. The criteria will now focus on sexual contact associated with a higher risk of disease transmission. Those who have engaged in certain types of sexual activity with a new partner within the last three months would not be allowed to donate until a later date.

Paulina Aguilar, CNN

More Americans can now give blood

North Carolina's top health official made sure to be one of the first gay men in the country to give blood Monday, after new federal rules went into place that allowed him to give blood for the first time in decades.

NC's openly gay health secretary celebrates new LGBTQ-friendly blood donation guidelines

North Carolina's top health official was one of the first gay men in the country to give blood Monday, after new federal rules went into place relaxing the restrictions that had banned gay men from giving blood.

Will Doran and Destinee Patterson, WRAL reporters

Wednesday is World Blood Donor Day

Wednesday is World Blood Donor Day. According to the Red Cross, every two seconds someone in the United States needs blood or platelets.

Donate blood Wednesday to celebrate World Blood Donor Day

Wednesday is World Blood Donor Day as blood centers around the world work to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products.

FDA Eases Ban on Blood Donations From Gay and Bisexual Men

The Food and Drug Administration announced Thursday that it had formally ended the agency's wide-ranging prohibition on blood donations from gay and bisexual men, a long-standing policy that had been denounced as discriminatory.

Christina Jewett, New York Times

Animal blood donation is facing critical shortages. A program in central NC lets you help.

Similar to human blood donation, canine blood donation is facing critical shortages.

Sydney Franklin, WRAL multiplatform producer

Your dog can give blood too through NC State program

Similar to human blood donation, canine blood donation is facing critical shortages.

Local hospitals almost completely out of blood amid surge in COVID-19 patients

Some hospitals are just days away from running out of blood amid a critical shortage like never before.

Lora Lavigne, WRAL reporter

U.S. Blood Banks Experiencing Biggest Shortage in a Decade

The pandemic has caused many supply-chain bottlenecks in everyday life, but few are as critical as the United States' ever-shrinking blood banks. For the American Red Cross, which supplies about 40% of the nation's blood, and other nonprofit blood centers, the problem lies mostly at the top of the chain: the diminishing number of healthy donors.

Adeel Hassan, New York Times

One of the best ways to help tornado victims: Give blood

The Blood Connection of Raleigh sent extra blood units to Nashville to help immediate trauma victims, according to a post on their Facebook page. The organization is encouraging Raleigh residents to donate blood to help those in need in western Kentucky.

American Red Cross responds to blood shortage

As the blood shortage reaches dire levels at local hospitals, the American Red Cross is offering some enticing new incentives to get people to donate.

Give blood, win a trip to Hawaii: That's how much the American Red Cross needs you

As the blood shortage reaches dire levels at local hospitals, the American Red Cross is offering some enticing new incentives to get people to donate.

Kasey Cunningham, WRAL reporter

Emergency shortage: Red Cross blood inventory lowest since 2015

The American Red Cross desperately needs more blood donors.

Man rewarded for donating blood nearly 600 times

It's not extraordinary for someone to donate blood, unless they are like an Alaska man who has donated more t han 500 times over the last 50 years.

Short on blood, Red Cross offering music festival tickets as donation incentives

The American Red Cross says they need your help. They need blood, badly. There is a severe shortage in our country and they're trying to do everything they can to turn it around.

Michelle Mackonochie, WRAL anchor/reporter

Dealership to give away free car to high schooler to encourage blood donations

Powers Swain Chevrolet of Fayetteville is giving away a Chevy Spark to a high schooler that gives blood before July 26.

Sydney Franklin, WRAL multiplatform producer

Health experts warn of urgent need for blood donations

Blood also has a shelf life of just over one month, so it cannot be stockpiled, furthering the need for constant donation. The shelf life for platelets is between three to five days.

More surgeries post-pandemic mean a greater need for blood

The Blood Connection, a local blood collection center, asked medical professionals Thursday to speak about a crucial need for more blood donors.

Jessica Patrick, WRAL multiplatform producer & Lora Lavigne, WRAL multimedia journalist

33rd annual Carolina Blood Drive underway in Chapel Hill

The event is being held all day Tuesday at the Smith Center.

Blood drive scheduled for Smith Center on Tuesday

The 33rd Annual Carolina Blood Drive runs from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Smith Center.

UNC blood drive aims to get at least 1,000 donations

The 33rd Annual Carolina Blood Drive runs from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Smith Center.