The American Red Cross will host a blood drive today from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the common room of Bragaw Residence Hall.

Kirsten Kruhm, blood donor recruiter at the American Red Cross, said blood supply is at an emergency supply low due to the recent summer vacation.

“Colleges and high schools make up about 25 percent of our overall collection,” she said. “So student bodies are really important to us.”

Thus far this year, there have been two blood drives on campus, according to Kruhm. The first drive in the Brickyard collected 24 pints, missing the goal of 25 pints by one. The second drive also missed the goal amount by one pint during the drive Tuesday at Talley, with a collection of 89 pints.

Kruhm said students who want to donate blood need to bring a picture ID, weigh at least 110 pounds, be over the age of 17 and in good health.

“And definitely eat before they donate,” she said.

Kruhm also said the blood donation will take approximately an hour, but the actual blood withdrawal time will take only eight to ten minutes.

She said the remainder of the hour will be filled with an information session and snacks following the donation.

Since blood is only good for 42 days, she said, continuous donation is necessary.

“It’s important that every single day of the year, we are collecting blood,” she said.