American Red Cross: Type O negative blood needed

The American Red Cross has a “significant need” for type O negative blood donors, according to the nonprofit organization

Type O negative blood, according to a release, can be transfused to patients with any blood type and is commonly used in emergency scenarios. Less than 7 percent of the United States population has the blood type.

Red Cross hopes eligible donors with type O negative blood wil come forward to make a whole blood or double red cell donation through the organization.

“Type O negative donors are an important part of the Red Cross trauma team,” Red Cross Blood Services spokesman Nick Gehrig said in a release. “While all blood types are needed, type O negative donations are necessary in emergency situations when there is no time to determine a patient’s blood type. Because there is such a high demand for type O negative blood, O negative donors are needed to donate often.”

Blood donation appointments can be scheduled by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 800-733-2767.

This story was originally published March 25, 2016 at 6:04 PM with the headline "American Red Cross: Type O negative blood needed."