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It's a story that is always true. The need for blood is greater than the amount that gets donated. Now, with stricter guidelines on who can donate, the situation is getting critical.

Blood centers are asking for people with type O blood, the universal donor, to come out. If you have a rare blood type it is even more urgent. If you don't know your blood type, stop in and donate some blood and the staff will let you know. It is important to know what your blood type is -- especially if you do have a less common type. It may save YOUR life in an emergency.

A study that was done on behalf of the American Red Cross shows that over 18 million Americans don't believe donating blood would make a difference to the current blood supply. Nine million people don't even believe there really is a blood shortage. Right now, 60 percent of Americans are eligible to give blood, but only five percent do. The reality is, just one pint can help save up to three lives.

Blood does not stay fresh and new donations are always needed, but especially following emergencies there is danger of running out...when lives depend on having a supply of blood for transfusions. Even if the emergency is not in the area where you live you can help by donating blood. The Red Cross can get it anywhere in the world that it is needed, but only if there is enough to share.

To help encourage blood donations, the American Red Cross works with companies and community groups. These blood drives help to provide life saving transfusions for emergency care. Most hospitals are willing to see people who are interested in giving, many even allow donors to set aside blood for some one they know or even for themselves. If an elective surgery is in your future, you may want to consider this option.

Every two seconds, someone in America needs blood. That's about 38,000 transfusions a day. And if you think you or someone you love will never be included in that number, think again. There's a 97 percent chance that someone you know will need a blood transfusion at some point in their life. It may be a family member, a friend, a colleague -- or you!

Right now, America has a two-day supply of blood. However, in order to be fully prepared for natural and man-made disasters, we would require a seven-day supply. To find out about donating blood, go to givelife.org or call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE.

Source: Newstream.com

More resources to giving blood around the Web:

America's Blood Centers