This article was originally published on dailypostathenian.com.

Have you or someone close to you ever needed a blood transfusion? Maybe it was because of an acci­dent. Or perhaps you needed blood due to a surgical procedure. The good thing about it was the blood was there when you needed it most.

The reason it was available is because someone donated their blood to you. And, the need for blood donations is constant. That’s why we feel it’s important that we respond by donating blood whenever we can.

Every two seconds someone in the United States needs a blood transfusion. Blood donors play the most vital role in helping to ensure a safe and adequate blood supply is available all year-round.

Blood Assurance is currently in critical need for blood donations of all types, most urgently O-negative and O-positive.

In the event of a crisis situation, the low blood supply would not adequately meet the demand for blood from patients in need. This low blood supply is attributed to the increased usage from local hospitals as well as the low number of donations over the holi­days.

Blood Assurance is asking the community to please help replenish the low blood supply as soon as possible

Eligible donors must be at least 18 years old and weigh at least 110 pounds and be in generally good health.

The Athens Blood Assurance center is located at 213 E. Washington Ave., Suite 104. The hours are Monday through Friday 9:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. and on the first Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.

For more information, call 252-0661.

We’re also hoping that many of you who haven’t given blood before will make the effort to become a donor for the first time.

We encourage you to donate what really is the gift of life. You never know when you or someone in your family will be in need of this lifesaving gift and the only way to ensure the supply is there when it’s needed is to be a donor.