SANFORD — According to the American Red Cross, someone in the United States needs blood every two seconds. Consequently, hospitals need more than 38,000 blood donations per day from a population in which less than 38 percent of people are eligible to give blood.

Still reeling from a slow summer in which blood donations dropped even lower than usual, the American Red Cross is calling on the generosity of eligible donors to replenish the nonprofit’s blood supply as winter approaches.

American Red Cross Lee County Chapter Director Abby Cameron said the agency has never fully caught up on donations from the summer, and the demand for blood will likely increase going into the winter months.

“It is typical that it goes down during the summer, but this year was particularly bad,” Cameron said. “We’re still really struggling at this point.”

Lee County will offer five opportunities to donate blood this week, including blood drives today at First Baptist Church and the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center. The Civic Center is the site of Lee County Schools’ annual health fair, which has included a blood drive for the past several years.

The health fair features 81 vendors and exhibitors that will provide information about health issues and community resources to Lee County Schools employees and their families. School Nursing Supervisor Mary Hawley Oates said with the health fair occurring on a teacher work day, the district also wanted to provide teachers and staff with an opportunity to donate blood while they’re out of the classroom.

“We know there is a critical shortage of blood right now,” Oates said. “A lot of times teachers are tied up during the school day and after the school day, so getting to a blood drive can be difficult. We feel like it’s an important opportunity for our staff to give back.”

Oates said Lee County’s high schools host blood drives a few times a year, but the health fair is the only district-wide blood drive for Lee County Schools.

The Red Cross typically increases the number of blood drives it offers during November and December, Cameron said, and donations tend to rise during the winter months. With people traveling more for the holidays, Cameron said an increase in car accidents means hospitals have a higher demand for blood during that time.

One pint of blood can save up to three lives, so Cameron said one donation goes a long way. But the Red Cross also needs new donations frequently, she said, because the donations from one blood drive are gone after only about two weeks.

“It’s a short time span,” Cameron said. “That’s why once you get behind, it’s really hard to catch up.”

Some criteria restrict people from donating blood. Cameron said people who take antibiotics or blood thinners are not eligible to donate blood, and people cannot donate if they have had a tattoo within the past year. In North Carolina, donors can give blood at age 16 with parental consent and at age 17 without parental consent. Donors must also be at least 110 pounds.

Cameron said she would encourage anyone who is eligible to donate blood this holiday season, even those who feel a bit squeamish at the thought of a needle going into their arm.

“It’s not as bad as it sounds,” Cameron said. “I give blood on a regular basis and I’m not a fan of needles... There are so many different classes of people who need blood, from women having babies to cancer victims to accident victims.”