About 5,000,000 Americans require blood transfusions each year. The American Red Cross works hard to provide these, but relies on donors to supply the resources to do so. Around the holidays, the amount of donations drop, hindering the aid the association can give.

Holiday festivities, travel and seasonal illness all cause a lack in the blood donations victims desperately need. Those associated with American Red Cross, including Marc Sutton, traveling Donor Recruitment Representative in Green Bay, Wisc. are publicly expressing the call for citizen help.

“During the holidays, the goal is to get people aware of the need…. Based on their medication history and medical conditions, only 38 percent of donors are eligible. Of that, only about 5 percent donate,” said Sutton.

Specifically, the donation process takes one pint of blood from each donor. Blood products are categorized into three parts which include plasma, platelets, and double red blood cells. After shipping, the recipient acquires whichever blood product that matches to his or her need.

“Typically, plasma is given to those with large volume blood loss, red blood cells to those with clotting disorders, and platelets to help organ transplants,” explained Sutton. After the blood is tested and separated, each component can only last for only a certain amount of time.

Plasma can freeze up to one year, red blood cells will last 42 days and platelets will last only last five days. Between the gaps of steady blood donations, American Red Cross must make sure previous donations will last long enough for hospitals to keep up with patient blood need.

Michigan Tech provides two bloods drives per year. One in September during Orientation week and another in March hosted by fraternities and sororities. The blood donated travels to help others at the time of need.

Sutton emphasizes the impact drives can make on the surrounding areas. He explains how a high school student from Wisconsin had been battling Leukemia and needed 52 blood products to replace his blood loss during treatment. Due to the success of local blood drives, the blood transfusion was also a success.

“There are a lot of misconceptions on who can or can’t donate. Some think ‘I’m too old or I can’t because I’m diabetic,’ Just come to a blood drive and ask, because restrictions change year to year,” said Sutton.

Donation clinics will accept people who have not donated in the past 56 days, are at least 17-years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and are overall in good health. Each donation can help save three lives and hospitals would appreciate donations during the donation-scarce holiday months.