The American Red Cross will host an immediate need blood drive from 1:30 to 6 p.m., Monday at the Mahoning Valley Ambulance Hall on Old Mill Road in Lehighton.

According to Jacqueline Dercole, Donor Resource Development Account Manager, the immediate need drive is typical for this time of year."Winter is a very hard time to collect. It's hard getting people out because of the weather," she said.Donated blood has a short shelf life. Red blood cells must be used within 42 days of collection, leaving little inventory in storage at any given time.The Red Cross supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood supply working with more than 50,000 sponsors each year to hold more than 200,000 drives. Eighty percent of the donations given to the Red Cross are collected at mobile drives set up at community organizations, companies, high schools, colleges, places of worship or military installations with the remaining 20 percent collected at Red Cross donation centers.The Red Cross is hoping to get a minimum of 15 units of blood or collect from upward of 20 people.Type O is the most requested blood by hospitals since it can be transfused to all patients, however all types are needed and will be collected Monday.Roughly 38 percent of the U.S. population is eligible to donate but less than 10 percent donate every year. The average person holds 10 pints of blood, with only one pint collected during a donation. A single car accident victim can require up to 100 pints of blood.The actual donation typically takes less than 10-12 minutes. The entire process takes about an hour and 15 minutes including registration, mini-physical and refreshments afterward.Walk-ins are welcome. To make an appointment, call 800-RED-CROSS.