The American Red Cross needs blood.

July is a critical time for the Red Cross blood supply, said Rebecca Barnes, Red Cross donor recruitment representative. High School and college students account for between 20 and 25 percent of donations, she said. When students leave school for the summer, donations drop dramatically.

Summer vacation is also the time when many parents schedule surgeries requiring blood.

Summer travel affects the blood supply in more ways than one. Dedicated donors take vacations in summer, along with everyone else, and skip their usual donations. Travel also creates an increased need for blood as travel-related accidents occur, Barnes said.

DeVontae Myers, a high school student and blood donor, said she started giving blood as a result of a blood drive at Lowndes High School.

“A lot of incidents happen involving students, so the blood you give might actually help your friends or people you know,” Myers said.

James Radford, a reservist with the Air Force, was at the Red Cross Blood Donor Center at 2517 Bemiss Road Monday to donate platelets. Asked why he started donating, Radford said, “It’s just something I’ve always done. I’m military, so it goes along with everything else the military does.”

Anyone 17 years old who weighs 110 pounds or more can be a donor, Barnes said. There’s no upper age limit. Actually, 16 year olds can also donate with parental consent. They can either come to the donor center accompanied by a parent or bring a completed consent packet, which parents must read, initial, and sign, she said.

A quick test will determine whether a potential donor’s red cell count is high enough, making them eligible to give blood.

The Red Cross now has a new collection procedure called triple platelet donation, Barnes said. This procedure allows some donors with higher platelet counts and larger body masses to give a triple platelet donation, which can help more patients than a normal donation. Platelets enable blood to clot and are used to treat cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Platelets only have a five-day shelf life and are always needed. The procedure takes a little longer and differs only slightly from standard blood donation procedures, she said.

Donors always receive the standard snacks and fruit juice. Participants will get a free T-shirt from July 1-12. From July 1 through Sept. 30, donors can enter a

drawing to win one of three $1,000 gas gift cards, Barnes said. The “Dog Days of Summer Blood Drive,” sponsored by the Humane Society of Valdosta/Lowndes County, is going on all summer. The organization will draw names on Labor Day to give away two pet spaying/neutering procedures, as well as other prizes.

The ninth annual Summer Blood Bash, a friendly competition between Lowndes High and Valdosta High schools will be going on from July 6 through 11. The school with the highest percentage of students donating blood wins. Lowndes has won more often, Barnes said, but last year Valdosta High School won.

The Valdosta Daily Times’ annual Employee Blood Drive is going on July 1-4.

To donate blood, visit the American Red Cross Blood Services Office and Donor Center at 2517A Bemiss Road or call (229) 241-1141.