A message sent out by MEDIC Regional Blood Center states their inventories of O-positive and O-negative blood are critically low. This means there is less than a two-day supply in inventory—donors who are healthy and well are encouraged to donate as soon as possible.

Type O blood, and especially O negative, is considered a “universal donor” blood type, because it can be safely transfused to people with any other blood type. Such a blood type is integral in many emergency situations wherein a patient’s blood type is either unknown or situations are time critical.

Type O blood isn’t rare, but the demand is always very high for it, hence why supplies run low so often.

The Crossville Branch of MEDIC can be found at 96 Hayes St.