Set back by the summer slow down in donations, United Blood Services (UBS) in Rapid City is hoping an annual blood drive will get its available supply out of the critical level.

Nikki Heier, donor recruitment, anticipates this week's Guns 'n Hoses Blood Drive will bring in about 720 units (about 700 people). In a town the size of Rapid City, that seems simple enough. But Heier said only about 5 percent of the population donates blood. To even further limit the pool of potential donors, only 37 percent of the population is eligible to donate in the first place - down from 67 percent in the past.

Donating blood is certainly a good cause and we hope the turnout exceeds expectations. Blood collected by UBS is distributed to more than 30 different hospitals from Rapid City to Mitchell to eastern Wyoming and northern Nebraska depending on need.

Getting blood donations is a continual process for UBS. The summer months, however, provide a unique challenge. During June, July and August, UBS loses a full 20 percent of its donor base with the end of the school year. Making collecting donations more difficult, many people vacation in the summer and the businesses they work for don't have the time to hold blood drives. The influx of tourists, of course, increases the need for blood during the summer months.

Heier hopes the fun-spirited competition between the fire department and the police department puts UBS in a position to gather ample supply for the coming months. We do, too.

The Guns 'n Hoses Blood Drive will take place between June 25 and June 28, each day at a different location. Appointments at the different locations can be made at www.bloodhero.com (do your search with 57701 zip code). Donors can stop in but organizers much prefer an appointment be made to better manage everyone's time and schedules. The average donation takes about 30 minutes.

Heier said people choose not to donate for a variety of reasons - some are just afraid of needles. But what she tries to get across to people is that donating blood really does make a difference.

Anyone, she said, would donate to save a family member. When you donate blood, someone in need will be the recipient and even if it doesn't happen to be a member of your immediate family, the person is still someone else's loved one.

"It's important to do because you really are saving a life," Heier said.

That's a good reason to roll up your sleeves.