Researchers warn that climate change is jeopardizing the world’s blood supply by increasing demand while reducing donations due to extreme weather events.
Climate Change's Growing Threat to Global Blood Supplies
Climate Change's Growing Threat to Global Blood Supplies
A recent study highlights the significant impact of extreme weather events, driven by climate change, on blood donation and transfusion safety.
In an alarming revelation, climate change is taking a toll on a critical resource: the global blood supply. A recent study featured in The Lancet Planetary Health underscores how rising temperatures and extreme weather can hinder blood donations, disrupt transportation, and compromise transfusion safety. This issue amplifies the risk of blood shortages during critical times, which could ultimately endanger lives.
The study, led by Elvina Viennet, an infectious disease researcher at the University of the Sunshine Coast in Australia, is the first to provide a comprehensive global assessment of the impact of climate change on blood supplies. Viennet and her team meticulously analyzed numerous findings on the implications of extreme weather, such as hurricanes, flooding, and wildfires, on various aspects of public health. Their research links these events to every phase of the blood supply process.
Such weather phenomena often impede people's ability to donate blood. Natural disasters can create impassable roads or displace communities, diverting attention away from blood donation efforts towards immediate survival challenges. Mobile donation units may be unable to operate or reach locations in dire need.
In recognition of this impending crisis, the authors emphasize the necessity of developing robust strategies to manage blood supply chain vulnerabilities exacerbated by climate change. Ensuring the availability and safety of blood at all times is paramount, particularly considering the potential consequences of weather-related disruptions.
