Local American Red Cross officials are urging eligible individuals to donate blood after a trauma situation last weekend resulted in a drastic plunge in blood supplies in the Greater Alleghenies Region.

Because of patient confidentiality policies, specific details about the unexpected event are still unknown. However, after requiring dozens of blood products to remedy the situation, all supplies have been reduced to low levels.

The universal donor type O-negative blood, in particular, is causing the greatest concern.

Thursday morning's blood inventory chart showed O-negative to be the only blood type with less than a one-day supply in stock.

However, Kathryn Solomon, an American Red Cross spokeswoman, said type-O blood is just one of many supplies that have been depleted.

"Pretty much everything is either in critical or urgent supply," she said.

Although supplies fluctuate on a daily basis, officials are still struggling to encourage everyone to donate whenever possible.

"We need people of all blood types, all the time," said Jennifer Mansfield, another Red Cross spokeswoman. "Out of 100 people, about half are eligible to donate blood, but only 5 percent actually do."

The most common reason for not being able to donate, Mansfield said, is a low level of iron. Therefore, individuals who wish to donate blood are advised to schedule ahead of time and maintain an iron-rich diet for at least one week before the donation.

Penn State's Student Red Cross Club allows anyone who wishes to donate to make an appointment online.

Red Cross Club adviser Wendi Keeler is still discouraged by the number of individuals who participate in Penn State's blood drives.

"We just cannot get enough people in the door to donate," she said.

Allison Domowitch, a club member who walked along College Avenue urging others to participate, said the upcoming Penn State-Michigan State Blood Donor Challenge is just one of the ways the club attempts to enlist the help of students.

The Challenge is being held Nov. 5 to 19.