Click here to watch this report about the urgent need for blood donations featuring comments from Lauren Larsen, a blood donor recipient and Marsha J. Evans, President & CEO of the American Red Cross.

DALLAS, Sep 4, 2003/ FW/ --- A new study on behalf of the American Red Cross shows that over 18 million Americans don't believe donating blood would make a difference to the current blood supply.

Nine million people don't even believe there really is a shortage.

Right now, 60 percent of Americans are eligible to give blood, but only five percent do.

The reality is, just one pint can help save up to three lives.

To help encourage blood donations, the American Red Cross recently launched its largest blood donor initiative in history.

The Save A Life Tour 2003 is traveling across the country visiting 345 communities to educate people about the importance of regular blood donations.

Their goal is three million blood donations over the course of the six-month campaign.

Every two seconds, someone in America needs blood. That's about 38,000 transfusions a day.

And if you think you or someone you love will never be included in that number, think again.

There's a 97 percent chance that someone you know - whether it's a family member, friend or colleague - will need a blood transfusion at some point in their life.

Right now, our nation has a two-day supply of blood. However, in order to be fully prepared for natural and man-made disasters, we would require a seven-day supply.

For more information about the Save A Life Tour 2003 or to find out about donating blood, go to www.givelife.org or call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE.