Road accidents lead summer urgency for blood donors

The phrase “summer slump” might sound harmless, like a slow season or a dip in your favorite baseball player’s performance. But in health care, the summer slump can cost lives.

The summer slump refers to the increased need for blood during the summer months because the blood supply “slumps”. A leading reason for this is that schools are out for summer break, which has a twofold impact on the blood supply.

First, high school blood drives account for 25% of all blood donations. Without those donations to rely on, it leaves a vacuum in the community’s blood supply. At the same time, the risk of serious injury increases.

June through August is known as the “100 deadliest days,” a period when traffic fatalities spike nationwide. More drivers are on the road, including younger and less experienced drivers, while vacation travel puts more people behind the wheel in unfamiliar areas.

Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) reports that nearly 18,000 people suffered serious or life-threatening injuries in vehicle crashes in 2025. Annually, around 250,000 Texans will suffer injuries in a vehicle crash.

For teenagers, the risk is even higher. According to TxDOT, they are 20% more likely to be involved in a fatal accident during the summer compared to any other time of the year. But the risk doesn’t just extend to teenagers. Statewide, one reportable car crash happens every 57 seconds. In many of those cases, someone‘s life will depend on a blood transfusion.

Several patients who received blood from Carter BloodCare donors can attest to the powerful, lifesaving impact blood donation had on their story. Because blood was available for them, their car accidents weren’t their final chapter. One of those patients is Cliff Dillehay.

Lives can change in an instant on the road. Blood donors have the power to help patients write a different ending. Sign up to donate blood today, and stay safe and aware on the roads.