High school and college students make up about 20 percent of all blood donations, said Todd Kulman, communications program manager for the Great Lakes Blood Services Region.

“We hold blood drives on the campus of MSU because college students are an important demographic for maintaining the blood donations,” Kulman said. “We are glad that school is back in session in order to get the students back into their routine of giving blood.”

In honor of National Preparedness Month, American Red Cross recommends three simple actions to prepare for weather-related disasters — get a kit, make a plan and be informed.

East Lansing hosted blood drives Monday at Snyder-Phillips hall and Martin Luther Chapel.

The blood drives on campus are co-hosted by the American Red Cross Club at MSU and the Residential College in the Arts and Humanities, said Shannon Smith, American Red Cross donor recruitment representative.

“The blood drives on campus are so unique because they are run by the student body,” Smith said.

Great Lakes Blood Services Region serves 65 countries and needs to collect about 650 units, or about 650 pints, of blood a day to meet patient needs in hospitals, according to American Red Cross.

All blood types are needed, but Type O negative, as the universal blood type, frequently is in high demand.

Kinesiology senior Max Golec participated in the event at Snyder-Phillips hall and is a frequent donor to blood drives on campus.

“Giving blood is something that I’ve been doing for a while now because it’s just a good thing to do,” Golec said. “The blood drives being right on campus makes it very convenient.”