Officials with the American Red Cross’ Midwest Blood Services Region in Omaha, say there is a significant need for residents in the area to donate type O negative blood. Type O negative blood can be transfused to patients with any blood type and is often used in emergency situations. While less than 7 percent of the U.S. population has type O negative blood, hospitals depend on frequent O negative donations to ensure it’s always available for patients in need.

Eligible donors with type O negative blood are encouraged to make a whole blood or double red cell donation, where available, through the Red Cross. During a double red cell donation, two units of red blood cells are collected while most of the plasma and platelets are returned to the donor.

Blood donation appointments can be quickly and easily scheduled by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Those who come to donate now through May 15, 2016, will be entered to win four single-day tickets to any of 10 Cedar Fair theme parks in the U.S, including Worlds of Fun in Kansas City. For a full list of participating parks, visit redcross.cedarfair.com

The Red Cross must collect approximately 14,000 blood and platelet donations every day for the patients at about 2,600 hospitals and transfusion centers nationwide. Blood and platelets are needed to respond to patient emergencies, including accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients, and those receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease.

Blood donation opportunities March 24-31:

Audubon County: Exira, March 28: noon to 6 p.m., Exira Recreational Center, 106 N. Jefferson

Cass County: Atlantic, March 24: noon to 6 p.m., Atlantic Catholic Parish Center, 105  W. 5th St.; March 31: 7:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Atlantic High School, 1201 E. 14th St.

Harrison County: Dunlap, March 30: 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Boyer Valley High School, 1102 Iowa Ave.; Logan, March 29: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Logan Magnolia High School, 1200 N. 2nd Ave.

Mills County: Glenwood, March 30: 7 a.m. – 1 p.m., Glenwood High School, 504 E. Sharp St.

Page County: Shenandoah, March 25: noon to 6 p.m., Special blood drive in memory of Issac at Shenandoah Assembly of God, 705 6th Ave.

How to donate blood All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

 Blood donors can now save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, prior to arriving at the blood drive. To get started and learn more, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site.