American Red Cross Blood Services coordinator Tracie Colvin said blood supply is always low during the holiday season. More people traveling means more traffic accidents. "We are asking the community to come out during this holiday season and give the 'Gift of Life,'" Colvin said.

The goal for this year's drive in Eufaula is 70 pints. All healthy people 17 or older who weigh at least 110 pounds can donate blood.

Although the actual donation takes only seven to 10 minutes, the entire process from registration to refreshments takes about one hour. One unit of blood, which is a little less than a pint, is taken from each donor. This amount is replaced by the body within 24 hours.

About 72 hours after donation, the blood is available for hospital use. One donation can be separated into components and used to treat several patients.

Blood donation is a safe procedure. AIDS or other diseases cannot be acquired from donating blood. A new sterile needle is used for every donation and then discarded.

Each person who donates blood will receive a t-shirt and every hour there will be a drawing for prizes donated by Eufaula-area businesses. Sponsors of this year's blood drive are Alabama Interforest, Eufaula/Barbour County Chamber of Commerce, Colonial Bank, First Assembly of God, Lakeview Hospital, Mann's Bait Company, RSVP, Wallace Community College and White Oak United Methodist Church.

Those who should not donate blood include anyone who is pregnant, is taking medication for infection, has had a measles, mumps and rubella vaccination in the past four weeks, has a cough, sore throat, doesn't feel well or has had a tattoo in the past 12 months.

Blood is needed every two minutes, and Alabama urgently needs more blood donors. "If you wait until an emergency to donate blood, it may be too late," Colvin said.