The American Red Cross is issuing a call for type O negative and AB blood donors to make an appointment to give after severe winter weather in some parts of the country caused about 250 Red Cross blood drives to cancel in March, resulting in more than 8,500 uncollected blood donations.

Those who wish to donate blood can do so today, from 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at Andalusia High School, 701 3rd St..

Type O negative blood and type AB plasma are two of the most in-demand blood products by hospitals. Those who give can help patients locally or across the country as the Red Cross has the ability to move blood products where and when they are needed most

“All blood types are needed to meet the constant need of patients, and there is a significant need now for type O negative and AB donations to help some of the most vulnerable patients,” said Mario Sedlock, director of donor recruitment, Red Cross Alabama and Central Gulf Coast Blood Services Region. “We ask that you schedule an appointment to roll up a sleeve to help save a life in the coming days.”

Type O negative blood can be transfused to patients with any blood type and is often needed in emergency situations when there isn’t time to determine a patient’s blood type.

Type AB is the universal plasma type and can be transfused to patients of any blood type in an emergency.

To get started and learn more, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site.