January was designated as National Blood Donor month in 1970 with the specific goal of increasing blood donations during the winter months. A decline in the blood supply during the winter months is very common. The busy holiday season, inclement weather, seasonal illnesses (such as colds and flu), can all cause donors to be unable to give.

While blood donations may be down in the winter, the need for blood is constant. Patient transfusion needs do not decline because the weather is bad. Accident victims, hospital patients, cancer patients, surgery patients and others count on the year-round generosity of donors to insure that blood is available.