A recent combination of medical emergencies and critical car crashes have led a Suncoast blood bank to put the call out for those with O-negative blood.

That blood type is the universal donor, meaning it can be used to save literally anyone’s life who may need an immediate transfusion.

Staff at local blood banks told ABC-7 spring is usually the peak time they need blood, but this year, even more so. Because of weather and snow across the country, local blood banks haven’t been able to get help from their partners elsewhere.