Blood donors needed

United Blood Services, Central Coast has released a critical appeal for O positive, B positive and A negative blood types.

The community's blood supply is reliant on volunteers to host blood drives and give blood. According to United Blood Services officials, drives usually pick up in January, but a trend of last-minute cancellations that caused concern in December has continued in the new year.

Officials have been attempting to replace canceled drives and encourage donations at various blood centers throughout the coast.

The constant demand for blood from the 20 Central Coast hospitals has kept a steady pressure on the blood supply.

United Blood Services is in need of all blood types, especially O positive, B positive and A negative.

For more information or to donate, call (800) 715-3699, visit one of the blood centers or go to www.unitedbloodservices.org/ centralcoast. Appointments are preferred, but walkins are welcome.

Local blood centers are at 1321 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks; 2105 Pickwick Drive, Camarillo; and 1756 Eastman Ave., Ste. 104, Ventura.