The American Red Cross said supplies of two blood types have fallen to critically low levels in Richmond County.

“Each day our Carolina Blood Services Region of The American Red Cross needs to collect 1600 units or pints of blood for patients, including our local hospitals and surrounding counties,” said Pam Park with the Richmond County Red Cross. ”We are way below this average. Please come out and give at the local drives.”

The Red Cross said supplies of O negative and B negative are at emergency levels and the agency is asking for donations from the public. According to Red Cross officials, recent bad weather across the country and the holiday season has kept people from donating blood in recent weeks.

Since type O negative blood can be used for any patient when there is no time to determine the person’s blood type, Red Cross officials are especially looking for donations of that blood type.

Upcoming drives are:

Today at Richmond Community College - Cole Auditorium in Hamlet from 8:45 a.m. -1:15 p.m.

Jan. 29 at Richmond Senior High School from 8:15 a.m.-1:45 p.m.

Jan. 29 at Walmart in Hamlet, from 2-6:30 p.m.

The American Red Cross of Richmond County is a United Way Partnering Agency.