The abnormally cold snap the South has just went through caused a lot of problems. Schools had to be closed, workers had to place sand on the roads to prevent ice forming and blood supplies are down.

The American Red Cross reported that type O negative and type B negative blood supplies have dropped to emergency levels. They are asking the community to give regardless of your blood type, but especially if you have these two types of blood.

Type O negative blood can be used for any patient when there is not time to determine the patient’s blood type, it is crucial that there is a sufficient supply.

Giving blood can be scary and draining, but when people are in need it’s the right thing to do.

Blood can be safely donated every 56 days. Most healthy people age 17 and older, or 16 with parental consent, who weigh at least 110 pounds, are eligible to donate blood and platelets. Donors who are 18 and younger must also meet specific height and weight requirements.

The Red Cross encourages people who are in good health to donate so that hospital patients have the blood or platelets they need to make a full recovery. Blood is needed to help treat a variety of patients including accident victims and individuals undergoing surgery and cancer treatment.