There are all sort of reasons people skip giving blood during the holidays, but the need for blood remains constant and urgent, according to Katie Marshall, spokeswoman for the American Red Cross chapter in Omaha-Council Bluffs.
“We are so busy with holiday activities, maybe travel, students are out of school and that’s about 25% of the blood that the Red Cross collects,” Marshall says. “We also have people fighting colds and flus and there’s the possibility of severe weather as well.” She emphasizes giving blood can be the most important gift people can give during the holiday season, as donations are traditionally down.
“You don’t always have a lot of time or extra money and that’s one of the best things about giving blood,” Marshall says. “You get a huge bang for your buck. It doesn’t cost a thing. It takes about an hour of your time and you can help save up to three lives by donating that one pint of blood.”
For more information, contact your local Red Cross office or visit redcross.org.