FROM STAFF REPORTS

The American Red Cross has a severe shortage of type O blood and urges type O donors – as well as eligible blood and platelet donors of all blood types – to give now to ensure lifesaving patient care isn’t impacted this winter.

Type O blood is the most in-demand blood type, helping patients facing life-threatening conditions and emergencies every day. Type O negative blood can be transfused to patients with any blood type and is what emergency room personnel reach for when there’s no time to determine a patient’s blood type. Type O positive blood is also especially needed because it is the most transfused blood type and can be given to Rh-positive patients of any blood type.

Right now, the Red Cross has less than a three-day supply of most blood types, and blood products are being distributed to hospitals faster than donations are coming in. Recent snowstorms and severe weather in many parts of the country have forced hundreds of blood drive cancellations, causing more than 20,000 blood and platelet donations to go uncollected.

Individuals of all blood types – especially type O – are asked to make an appointment to donate blood or platelets by downloading the free American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

To celebrate the final season of Game of Thrones, HBO and the Red Cross have partnered to ask fans and blood donors to Bleed #ForTheThrone this March. This is the largest blood donation promotional effort by an entertainment company in Red Cross history – with six days of coordinated giving March 7-12 from fans and blood donors at blood drives in 43 states across the U.S., including an immersive blood drive experience at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas.

As part of the partnership, fans who come to donate blood or platelets with the Red Cross now through March 17 will automatically be entered for a chance to win one of five trips to the season 8 world premiere of Game of Thrones. The trip includes travel for two, up to two nights hotel accommodations and a $250 gift card for expenses. Terms and conditions apply and are available at RedCrossBlood.org/HBOGameofThrones.

Additionally, those who come to donate March 7-12 will also receive exclusive Game of Thrones swag including a T-shirt, stickers to unlock a unique Snapchat filter and other items, while supplies last.

The Red Cross is offering the following donation opportunities in Shelby County over the next several weeks:

Feb. 25: 12:45 p.m. – 7:45 p.m., Birmingham Blood Donation Center, 700 Caldwell Trace

Feb. 26: 12:45 p.m. – 7:45 p.m., Birmingham Blood Donation Center, 700 Caldwell Trace

Feb. 27: 10:45 a.m. – 5:15 p.m., Birmingham Blood Donation Center, 700 Caldwell Trace

March 1: 8:15 a.m. – 3:15 p.m., Birmingham Blood Donation Center, 700 Caldwell Trace

March 2: 8:15 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Birmingham Blood Donation Center, 700 Caldwell Trace

March 3: 8:15 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Birmingham Blood Donation Center, 700 Caldwell Trace

March 4: 12:45 p.m. – 7:45 p.m., Birmingham Blood Donation Center, 700 Caldwell Trace

March 5: 12:45 p.m. – 7:45 p.m., Birmingham Blood Donation Center, 700 Caldwell Trace

March 6: 10:45 a.m. – 5:45 p.m., Birmingham Blood Donation Center, 700 Caldwell Trace

March 8: 8:15 a.m. – 3:15 p.m., Birmingham Blood Donation Center, 700 Caldwell Trace

March 9: 8:15 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Birmingham Blood Donation Center, 700 Caldwell Trace

March 10: 8:15 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Birmingham Blood Donation Center, 700 Caldwell Trace

March 11: 12:45 p.m. – 7:45 p.m., Birmingham Blood Donation Center, 700 Caldwell Trace

March 12: 12:45 p.m. – 7:45 p.m., Birmingham Blood Donation Center, 700 Caldwell Trace

March 13: 10:45 a.m. – 5:45 p.m., Birmingham Blood Donation Center, 700 Caldwell Trace

March 14: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., City Hall, 1953 Municipal Way

March 15: 8:15 a.m. – 3:15 p.m., Birmingham Blood Donation Center, 700 Caldwell Trace

March 16: 8:15 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Birmingham Blood Donation Center, 700 Caldwell Trace

March 17: 8:15 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Birmingham Blood Donation Center, 700 Caldwell Trace

March 18: 12:45 p.m. – 7:45 p.m., Birmingham Blood Donation Center, 700 Caldwell Trace

March 19: 12:45 p.m. – 7:45 p.m., Birmingham Blood Donation Center, 700 Caldwell Trace

March 20: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Spain Park High School, 4700 Jaguar Drive

March 20: 10:45 a.m. – 5:45 p.m., Birmingham Blood Donation Center, 700 Caldwell Trace

March 22: 8:15 a.m. – 3:15 p.m., Birmingham Blood Donation Center, 700 Caldwell Trace

March 23: 8:15 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Birmingham Blood Donation Center, 700 Caldwell Trace

March 24: 8:15 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Birmingham Blood Donation Center, 700 Caldwell Trace

March 25: 12:45 p.m. – 7:45 p.m., Birmingham Blood Donation Center, 700 Caldwell Trace

March 26: 12:45 p.m. – 7:45 p.m., Birmingham Blood Donation Center, 700 Caldwell Trace

March 27: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., SP Net Incorporated, 500 Riverhills Biz Park Suite 500

March 27: 10:45 a.m. – 5:45 p.m., Birmingham Blood Donation Center, 700 Caldwell Trace

March 29: 8:15 a.m. – 3:15 p.m., Birmingham Blood Donation Center, 700 Caldwell Trace

March 30: 8:15 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Birmingham Blood Donation Center, 700 Caldwell Trace

March 31: 8:15 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Birmingham Blood Donation Center, 700 Caldwell Trace