LifeShare Blood Center released the following statement:

Beaumont, TX - November 6, 2010 - LifeShare Blood Centers is a member of an organization of community blood centers that shares blood resources in time of need. In response to yesterday's shooting rampage that occurred at Fort Hood , 12 people killed and 31 injured, LifeShare Blood Centers has been contacted and asked to prepare to assist by providing O negative blood. However, at this time LifeShare has no excess of O negative blood.

O blood donors are universal donors and their blood is most often used during traumas. Therefore, it is often in short supply. Type O donors make up about 45% of the population. O negative donors make up about 7% of the population.

If you are blood type O, you are a universal donor. We encourage all universal donors that are eligible to give blood to give now and often. Please contact your local LifeShare Blood Centers at (409) 838-5289 or visit www.lifeshare.org and schedule your blood donation request online.

Potential donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds, feel well and healthy at the time of donation, and eat a well-balanced meal with increased fluid intake prior to donation, know the names and doses of any medications taken, and the reasons for taking the medications. Identification must be presented at the time of donation.