The record-breaking cold and winter storms that gripped much of the country last week have negatively affected supplies of blood and platelets.

The Red Cross is urging healthy individuals, especially those with type O blood, to donate blood immediately to ensure an adequate supply of blood products for patient emergencies.

A Red Cross news release said the winter weather forced the cancellation of hundreds of Red Cross blood drives in about 30 states and caused more than 15,000 blood and platelet donations to go uncollected.

To help ensure lifesaving patient care is not affected, Red Cross officials are urging healthy individuals to schedule an appointment to donate blood.

Appointments can be scheduled on the Red Cross Blood Donor website at RedCrossBlood.org or by calling 800-733-2767.

Those interested in donating blood also can schedule an appointment by enabling the blood donor skill on any Alexa Echo device, the release said.

All donors will be tested for COVID-19 antibodies, with results being available one to two weeks after the blood donation.

Upcoming Red Cross blood drives in Butler County are:

- Noon to 6 p.m. March 1 at the Mars VFW, 331 Mars-Valencia Road, Mars

- Noon to 5:30 p.m. March 3 at Hilton Garden Inn Pittsburgh/Cranberry, 2000 Garden View Lane, Cranberry Township

- 1 to 6 p.m. March 8 at Grace Church of Harmony, 538 Main St., Harmony

- 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. March 9 at Cranberry Elks Lodge, 20720 Route 19, Cranberry Township

- Noon to 5:30 p.m. March 12 at Days Inn by Wyndham Butler Conference Center, 139 Pittsburgh Road, Butler.