TWO WEEKS INTO THE NEW YEAR, THE AMERICAN RED CROSS IS ALREADY FACING A SEVERE SHORTAGE OF SEVERAL BLOOD TYPES. IN THE TRI CITIES, SUPPLIES OF TYPE O NEGATIVE, B NEGATIVE, AND A NEGATIVE BLOOD ARE AT LESS THAN A DAY’S SUPPLY DESPITE REPEATED CALLS TO DONORS TO GIVE BLOOD OVER THE PAST MONTH. THE RED CROSS IS ASKING BLOOD DONORS TO DONATE IMMEDIATELY TO PREVENT SUPPLY LEVELS FROM DROPPING EVEN FURTHER THE COMING WEEKS AND DAYS. ACCORDING TO GWEN HUNTER, BLOOD CENTER COORDINATOR IN JOHNSON CITY, WHILE ALL BLOOD TYPES ARE NEEDED, THE LOW SUPPLY OF TYPE O BLOOD IS OF PARTICULAR CONCERN. TYPE O IS THE MOST COMMONLY USED BLOOD TYPE. O NEGATIVE BLOOD CAN BE USED FOR ALL PATIENTS, BUT IT IS OFTEN ESSENTIAL IN THE TREATMENT OF TRAUMA PATIENTS, NEWBORNS, AND WOMEN WHO ARE PREGNANT.