The Puget Sound Blood Center is accepting blood donations today, Monday, at Sammamish City Hall through 3 p.m.

The donations are being taken in the building’s city council chambers on the first floor.

Why donate? According to the American Red Cross, someone in the United States needs blood every two seconds. One car accident victim can need as much as 100 pints of blood. The Blood Center distributes blood to more than 70 hospitals in 14 Western Washington counties.

Scientists with the center’s research institute also investigate potential innovations in transfusion medicine, blood biology, cancer therapies and organ transplantation year-round.

The city hall building, in Sammamish Commons, is located at 801 228th Ave. S.E.

If you miss the drive today but would still like to donate, a blood bus will park in the parking lot of the Sammamish Safeway 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 3, and again at Mary, Queen of Peace 1-7 p.m. Jan. 12. An up-to-date schedule of donation drives and directions to sites can be found on the Puget Sound Blood Center’s search page.