The Blood Center is currently experiencing a shortage of O-negative blood, and immediate donations are needed, officials say.

Paul Adams, public relations manager for The Blood Center, said that donations typically decline in the winter months. At the same time, there is also normally an increase in the number of accidents requiring blood transfusions.

“Inventory could drop to extremely low levels in the coming days without an immediate response to replenish supplies,” Adams said. “The need for a stable three-day supply of blood is important for area patients, before and after potentially disastrous situations.”

The Bogalusa Donor Center will be open today, at 324 Austin St., from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is also open every Monday and Wednesday, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Any healthy individual 17 years of age (or 16 with a parental consent) and over 110 pounds can donate whole blood every 56 days.

To schedule a donation, visit online at www.thebloodcenter.org or call 1-800-86-BLOOD. Donors are asked to bring a photo ID, and eat and drink plenty of fluids prior to donating.

Adams said that The Blood Center is currently at “critical levels” for type O-negative blood, and A-negative and B-negative supplies are also at low levels.

Since O-negative is universal (meaning anyone regardless of their own blood type can receive it) it is primarily used in trauma situations when the patient’s blood type is unknown and the need to transfuse the patient is imminent. Due to the universal nature of O-negative blood, it is also given to newborns when a transfusion is indicated.

Adams said The Blood Center must collect 300 to 350 units of blood daily, to serve over 40 area hospitals in southern Louisiana and Mississippi.