Summertime is the time to give blood

The next time you climb into your car in the afternoon and the seats and the steering wheel are just slightly cooler than a fully-fired charcoal grill, think of it as a reminder that it`s a good time to donate blood.

Summer, when school is out and families hit the road for vacations, is a time when donors are in short supply, but the need for blood is as strong as ever. If it`s been a while since you donated, there`s no better time than now.

In about the time it would take to shop for groceries for a week or knock out a crossword puzzle a blood donor can save a life.

Donors must be 17 or older, or 16 with parental consent, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds and be in good health. A photo ID is also required. Donors get cookies, a cool T-shirt and are entered to win a big screen TV. Roll up your sleeve this summer, LifeSouth really needs your help.

Please join us at the following community blood drives:

Look for the bloodmobile at City Hall in Cedar Key on Friday, June 21 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Look for the bloodmobile at Scaff`s Supermarket in Bell on Saturday, June 22 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

LifeSouth is the sole blood supplier for 39 medical facilities in 17 counties in North Central Florida including Shands at UF, the VA Medical Center, and North Florida Regional Medical Center. LifeSouth is a nonprofit, volunteer blood center supplying 128 medical centers in Florida, Alabama and Georgia.