Give life by donating blood

Students pass by the signs advertising the drives throughout the year - most of the time without any more notice than the signs notifying a car for sale. And now, during the summer, students can no longer be oblivious to the needs of the Red Cross.\nThe Red Cross is dealing with a blood shortage, which stems from a lack of donation. And with the summer just getting underway, the shortage will only get worse. According to Daniel Easter, the donor coordinator at the Red Cross on East 7th Street, "the worst time of the year for blood is the 4th of July."\nThe reason for this, Easter said, is that during the summer, many people go on vacations, there are less donations and companies and organizations typically don't have any blood drives. This sets up for smaller numbers of blood units available. Tack on the fact that typically there are more accidents during the summer, especially road-related, and this all adds up to a blood shortage. This is a shortage that will not get any better until Labor Day and the ending of summer, when donation rates increase. \nSo what is needed now by all students, faculty, staff and Bloomington residents is to do their part and donate a pint of blood. Right now the Red Cross needs O positive, O negative, A negative and AB negative, but any blood would be greatly appreciated. The only requirements necessary is the prospective donator be at least 17 years old, at least 110 pounds and in good health, and they will be accepted. The Red Cross is open 9 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m. Friday and from 8 a.m. until noon Saturday. \nSure, there are plenty of reasons you can come up with as to not donate. Maybe you are scared of needles, it hurts too much or simply it is a problem that you think someone else can take care of. Despite all of this, the simple fact is, you never know when you or someone you love might get in an accident. And when something unfortunate like that happens, little things such as extra pints of blood can be the difference between life and death. Makes the simple task of donating seem not so bad, doesn't it?\n