VALDOSTA — Valdosta State University’s Council on Staff Affairs (COSA) will sponsor a blood drive from 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in Student Union Meeting Room 1, A and B.

Organizers said the goal is to collect 38 pints of blood for the American Red Cross’s Southern Blood Services Region. 

Students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of the university are encouraged to give blood. Just one pint can save up to three people’s lives, they said.  

Claire Bowen with the American Red Cross said that it can be especially difficult for her organization to collect enough blood to meet the needs of hospital patients during

the summer months. This is partly due to schools, where many blood drives are held, being out of session until the fall.

During the months of June, July and August, the American Red Cross faces an average of more than 100,000 fewer donations than hospital patients demand.  

 To schedule an appointment to give blood during the COSA event, visit www.redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code “VSU,” or call (800)-RED-CROSS. Walk-ins are welcome. Photo identification is required.

 All donors will receive a free T-shirt.

Facts about blood needs from the Red Cross:

• Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood.

• More than 41,000 blood donations are needed every day.

• A total of 30 million blood components are transfused each year in the U.S.

• The average red blood cell transfusion is approximately three pints.

• The blood type most requested by hospitals is Type O.

• The blood used in an emergency is already on the shelves before the event occurs.

• Sickle cell disease affects more than 70,000 people in the U.S. About 1,000 babies are born with the disease each year. Sickle cell patients can require frequent blood transfusions throughout their lives.

• More than 1.6 million people were diagnosed with cancer last year. Many of them will need blood, sometimes daily, during their chemotherapy treatment.

• A single car accident victim can require as many as 100 pints of blood.

Source: American Red Cross at www.redcross.org.