About one of every seven people entering the hospital will need blood.

That means that someone in America needs blood roughly every two seconds.

Unfortunately, although nearly 40 percent of Americans are eligible to donate blood, only 3 to 4 percent actually do.

That is why I strongly encourage all healthy residents to join me in helping to save a life this year by giving blood.

I especially urge young adults to donate.

Hopefully, you will make donating blood a lifelong habit.

On Monday, I donated blood at the Niles Buchanan YMCA during a blood drive sponsored by Boy Scout Troop 579.

It was quick and easy and an excellent way to support our community.

In southwest Michigan, the blood needed by patients at all Lakeland hospital facilities is provided by Michigan Blood, a non-profit community blood bank. Michigan Blood conducts mobile blood drives throughout the region and welcomes blood donors at its permanent facility at 2710 Cleveland Ave. in St. Joseph on Tuesdays from noon to 7 p.m.

To schedule an appointment, call (269) 408-1540 or call toll-free (866) MIBLOOD and press the menu option for “Southwest Michigan.”

For more information about giving blood, including upcoming blood drives, residents may visit its website at www.miblood.org.

In addition to giving blood, residents can help save a life by signing up to be organ and tissue donors. The Michigan Organ Donor Registry is maintained by the state, but is confidential and can only be accessed by Gift of Life Michigan to assist hospitals in the recovery and transplantation of organs and tissue. You may join the registry online at www.michigan.gov/sos under “Organ Donation” or by visiting your local Secretary of State office.

Donating blood takes a very short time. The actual donating process takes less than 10 minutes and the entire visit — from check-in to checkout — lasts 60 minutes or less.

If you do decide to donate, please remember to get plenty of rest beforehand, eat a good meal and avoid alcohol. It is also important to drink plenty of fluids both before and after donating.

I hope you will consider taking an hour of your day to give blood. It is often the gift of life.

Sen. John Proos, R-St. Joseph, represents the 21st District, which includes Berrien and Cass counties and most of Van Buren County.