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Blood deserts

Quick answerA blood desert is an area where blood is difficult to obtain quickly in an emergency, often rural or underserved. Donating where you live strengthens the supply closest to your community, and prehospital programs help carry blood to where it is needed.

What a blood desert is

A blood desert is an area where blood is hard to obtain quickly when an emergency happens, often because the nearest supply is far away. Rural and underserved regions are most affected.

Why it matters

In a severe bleed, minutes count. When blood is far away, outcomes can suffer. Local donation and programs that carry blood on ambulances and helicopters help close the gap.

What helps

A strong local donor base, mobile blood drives, and prehospital blood programs all improve access. Donating where you live strengthens the supply closest to your community.

Donation access by state

See how to find donation centers and help locally in your state or province.

AlabamaAlaskaAlbertaArizonaArkansasBritish ColumbiaCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineManitobaMarylandMassachusettsMbMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew BrunswickNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaNova ScotiaOhioOklahomaOntarioOregonPennsylvaniaPrince Edward IslandQuebecRhode IslandSaskatchewanSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming

Find a place to donate

Search by city, ZIP, state, or center name, or use your location to see the closest centers.

Centers near meCheck general eligibilitySee what to expect

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Sources and review

The guidance on this page reflects published criteria from these organizations. Eligibility and procedures vary by center and country, so confirm specifics with your donation center.

Last reviewed:
Next review due:
Reviewed by:
Reviewed against American Red Cross, AABB, and U.S. FDA donor guidance
Confidence:
Medium confidence