Extreme heat partially to blame for blood shortage: Red Cross

The American Red Cross’s national blood inventory dropped by more than 25 percent in the month of July, driven in part by extreme heat throughout the country, the organization announced on Monday.

The organization now faces an emergency blood shortage, as nearly 100 blood drives – in almost every state the Red Cross operates – have faced heat-related challenges in just the last month alone.

Under extreme heat conditions, people are more likely to stay indoors, reducing the...