As a result of the recent bad weather across the country, and on the heels of the holiday season, the blood supply has drastically decreased in the Carolinas Region. According to Red Cross officials, type O negative and type B negative blood supplies have dropped to emergency levels and help is needed now. type O negative blood can be used for any patients when there is not time to determine the patient’s blood type, it is crucial that there is a sufficient supply. Blood may be donated at the following locations and times:

Scotland Memorial Hospital January 12 Noon – 5 p.m.

Lumberton Correctional (Employees Only) January 14 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Laurinburg Fire Dept (North Station- Main Street) January 14 11 a.m. -- 3:30 p.m.

UNC - Pembroke January 15 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.

We Care For You, Lumberton January 15 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Mt Airy Baptist Church, Pembroke January 16 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Campbell Soup, Maxton (Employees Only) January 18 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Campbell Soup (Employees Only) January 18 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m.

St Mary’s Catholic Church, Laurinburg January 21 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood. The American Red Cross Carolinas Blood Services Region provides lifesaving blood to 103 hospitals and must have 1,600 people give blood and platelets each weekday to meet hospital demand. Accident victims as well as patients with cancer, sickle cell disease, blood disorders and other illnesses receive lifesaving transfusions every day. There is no substitute for blood and volunteer donors are the only source.

The Red Cross encourages people who are in good health to donate so that hospitalized 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.

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.

For more information or to locate a nearby blood drive, call the Scotland County Chapter of the American Red Cross at 276-0600, 738-5057 if in Robeson County, or 1-800-GIVE LIFE (448-3543).