Red Cross, seeking donations, extremely low on two blood types

Agency lost potential 8,500 donations last winter.

The American Red Cross is extremely low on two types of blood.

The agency needs Type O negative and Type AB plasma – a universal blood.

Severe winter weather has canceled more than 250 blood drives in March alone, which officials say has resulted in the loss of more than 8,500 potential donations.

To donate go to the Red Cross site here or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Type-O negative blood is the universal blood type and can be transfused to patients of any blood type. It is what emergency room personnel reach for when there is no time to determine the blood type of patients in the most serious situations.

Less than 7 percent of the U.S. population has Type-O negative blood. Because there is such a high demand for type O negative blood, these donors are needed to donate regularly.

Type AB plasma is the universal plasma type and can be transfused to patients of any blood type in an emergency. Plasma helps maintain blood pressure and supplies critical proteins for clotting and immunity.

It is often needed for burn, trauma and clotting factor deficiency patients.

Donors must be at least 110 pounds and 17 years old, or 16 with parental consent.