For many patients facing emergency blood needs, type O blood is what medical teams reach for. But right now, the American Red Cross is facing a severe shortage of this critical blood type and urgently needs type O donors – as well as donors of all blood types – to give now. To encourage donations at this crucial time, the Red Cross has joined forces with Game of Thrones for an epic partnership that includes a sweepstakes and T-shirt promotion.

Type O blood is the most in-demand blood type, helping patients facing life-threatening conditions and emergencies every day. Type O negative blood can be transfused to patients with any blood type and is what emergency room personnel reach for when there’s no time to determine a patient’s blood type. Type O positive blood is also especially needed because it is the most transfused blood type and can be given to Rh-positive patients of any blood type. Right now, the Red Cross has less than a three-day supply of most blood types, and blood products are being distributed to hospitals faster than donations are coming in. Recent snowstorms and severe weather in many parts of the country have forced hundreds of blood drive cancellations, causing more than 20,000 blood and platelet donations to go uncollected. Individuals of all blood types – especially type O – are asked to make an appointment to donate blood or platelets by downloading the free American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

To celebrate the final season of Game of Thrones, HBO and the Red Cross have partnered to ask fans and blood donors to Bleed #ForTheThrone this March. This is the largest blood donation promotional effort by an entertainment company in Red Cross history – with six days of coordinated giving March 7-12 from fans and blood donors at blood drives in 43 states across the U.S., including an immersive blood drive experience at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas. As part of the partnership, fans who come to donate blood or platelets with the Red Cross now through March 17 will automatically be entered for a chance to win one of five trips to the season 8 world premiere of Game of Thrones. The trip includes travel for two, up to two nights hotel accommodations and a $250 gift card for expenses. Terms and conditions apply and are available at RedCrossBlood.org/HBOGameofThrones.*

Additionally, those who come to donate March 7-12 will also receive exclusive Game of Thrones swag including a T-shirt, stickers to unlock a unique Snapchat filter and other items, while supplies last. Some Upcoming blood donation opportunities Feb. 25-March 31:

American Red Cross Blood Donation Center – Loess Hills Blood Donation Center, 705 N. 16th St. Council Bluffs,

Greenfield – 2/25/2019: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Nodaway Valley High School, 410 NW 2nd Street

Orient – 3/6/2019: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Orient-Macksburg High School, 201 School Street

Exira – 3/25/2019: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Exira Recreational Center, 106 N Jefferson

Manning – 3/29/2019: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., IKM Manning High School, 209 10th Street

Atlantic – 2/26/2019: 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Cass County Memorial Hospital, 1501 E. 10th Street; 3/5/2019: 7:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Atlantic High School, 1201 East 14th Street; 3/14/2019: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Atlantic YMCA, 1100 Maple Street

Griswold – 3/8/2019: 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Griswold High School, 20 Madison

Glenwood – 3/12/2019: 6:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Glenwood High School, 504 East Sharp Street; 3/15/2019: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Meyer Building, 111 Lacey Meyer Complex

Red Oak – 2/25/2019: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Montgomery County Hospital, 2301 Eastern Ave; 3/25/2019: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 1101 East Summit

Stanton – 3/15/2019: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Viking Center, 501 Elliot

Villisca – 3/20/2019: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Community Center, 201 S. 3rd Ave

Clarinda – 3/12/2019: 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Regional Health Center, 220 Essie Davison Drive; 3/19/2019: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Westminster Presbyterian Church, 322 N 16th

College Springs – 3/22/2019: 12:30 p.m. – 5 p.m., South Page High School, 600 S Iowa

Shenandoah – 2/25/2019: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Elks Lodge, 701 S. Fremont St., Hwy 59

Neola – 3/28/2019: 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Tri-Center High School, 33980 310th St

Oakland – 3/5/2019: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Oakland Riverside High School, 18997 Hwy 59

Underwood – 3/13/2019: 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Underwood High School, 629 North Street

Elk Horn – 3/25/2019: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Exira EHK Schools, 4114 Madison

Harlan – 2/25/2019: 7:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Harlan High School, 2102 Durant Street; 3/19/2019: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Veteran’s Memorial Building, 1104 Morningview

Panama – 2/27/2019: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., St. Mary’s Parish Center, 204 St. Mary Avenue

Westphalia – 3/27/2019: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., St. Boniface Parish Center, 305 Duren St.

Bedford – 3/13/2019: 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Bedford High School, 1006 Illinois St.

Creston – 3/13/2019: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Creston High School, 601 W. Townline