New Jersey Blood Services has declared a second blood emergency this summer, warning that blood supplies serving hospitals throughout New Jersey have dropped to their lowest levels since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The unprecedented declaration comes just weeks after the organization issued a blood emergency ahead of Memorial Day, marking the first time it has announced two blood emergencies during the same summer.

Officials said a combination of extreme heat, severe thunderstorms, widespread power outages, and ongoing storm recovery efforts has sharply reduced the number of people donating blood at a time when hospitals continue to rely on a steady supply for lifesaving procedures.

Overall blood inventory has fallen to roughly a two-day supply, significantly below the level considered necessary to meet the needs of hospitals across the region. The shortage is especially severe for Type O-negative blood, the universal blood type used in emergencies, with less than a half-day supply currently available.

The New York Blood Center supplies blood to hospitals throughout New Jersey and New York, making donations from New Jersey residents critical to maintaining the regional blood supply.

“We prepare for seasonal challenges every year, but the combination of extreme weather, disrupted routines, and low national inventories has created an unprecedented situation,” said Andrea Cefarelli, chief operating officer for Blood & Laboratory Operations at New York Blood Center Enterprises, said in a statement.

Cefarelli said blood centers often rely on one another during shortages, but inventories are currently low across the country, limiting the ability to bring in additional blood from other regions.

As hospitals contend with dwindling blood inventories, they are also entering what medical professionals often refer to as “trauma season”—the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day, sometimes called the “100 Deadliest Days of Summer.” During these months, emergency departments typically see a sharp increase in patients due to motor vehicle crashes, outdoor recreation accidents, and other traumatic injuries, driving up the demand for lifesaving blood transfusions at the very time donations tend to decline.

Health officials are urging healthy, eligible donors—particularly those with Type O blood—to schedule appointments as soon as possible. Donated blood is used to treat trauma victims, cancer patients, people living with sickle cell disease and thalassemia, transplant recipients, and patients undergoing surgeries and other emergency medical treatments.

The organization is also encouraging employers, schools, faith-based organizations, community groups, elected officials and local leaders across New Jersey to help spread awareness of the urgent need for blood donations.

Locally, Bikur Cholim of Lakewood partners with RWJBarnabas Health to host regular blood and platelet drives at Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus, to help replenish supplies for hospitals across New Jersey.

Whole blood donors are eligible to donate every 56 days, while platelet donors may donate up to twice each month. Officials also noted that recent updates to federal eligibility guidelines have expanded the number of people who may qualify to donate.

Appointments are encouraged, although walk-in donors are also accepted at donation centers throughout the region.