During the summer months blood inventory can drop to critical levels, because more blood is being distributed than collected. According to the American Red Cross, blood donations decrease by about 15 percent during the summer. Donations decline mostly because high schools and colleges typically don’t sponsor blood drives during the summer, and many Americans take vacations and enjoy warm weather activities in lieu of donating blood.

Each day, our region needs to collect about 1,200 units of blood to maintain a sufficient blood supply. The Red Cross strives to maintain a five to seven day supply to ensure that hospital patients receive the treatment they need. However, in the summer the levels drop significantly.

Currently, our region is experiencing shortages of all blood types, which can mean rationed blood supplies and cancelled surgeries. Our blood supply is at three days, and supplies of blood types O Negative and A Negative are lowest.

Keeping a sufficient blood supply is vital because when a personal medical crisis or a manmade natural disaster occurs, blood must be ready and available. According to the American Red Cross about every two seconds someone in America needs blood.

Donating blood is fairly simple. It only takes about an hour, but it can have a lifesaving impact on another individual. In fact, each pint of blood donated during a blood drive can help save up to three lives.

Blood donors must be at least 17-years-old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in general good health. 16-year-olds may donate blood with a consent form. Many of us fit into this category and could be donating blood more regularly.

We cannot just assume that others will fulfill the need. Locally, only about four percent of the people who are eligible to give blood actually do so. Each one of us can help save lives by donating our blood.