The American Red Cross and Versiti Blood Center of Indiana are urging blood donors of all types and those who have never given before to take the time to donate blood or platelets this month.

January is usually a period of critical blood shortages. People stop donating blood during the holidays and when they get sick during cold and flu season. Blood drives also get snowed out during the winter months.

According to americasblood.org, this month is an opportunity to recognize the roughly 3% of the U.S. population that donates blood each year. A blood transfusion occurs every 2 seconds in America, and a single donation can save multiple lives.

“Patients’ access to care means having blood readily available on hospital shelves,” said Dr. Baia Lasky, medical director of the American Red Cross of Georgia. “It’s important people don’t wait until there’s a crisis to give blood.”

Unlike other treatments, blood cannot be stockpiled or manufactured. It can only come from volunteer blood donors. Blood products are not only vital in saving patients’ lives but instrumental in supporting other treatments, like chemotherapy.

The American Red Cross plans to conduct at least two blood drives this month in Jackson County.

The first will be from noon to 6 p.m. Jan. 19 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 605 S. Walnut St., Seymour. The second will be from 8 a.m. to noon Jan. 29 at St. Paul Lutheran Church Borchers, 10792 N. County Road 210E, Seymour.

National Blood Donor Month, celebrated in January since 1970, is designed to raise awareness of the need for blood during the winter and throughout the year while honoring those who roll up a sleeve to help patients in need.

Eligible donors with all blood types are needed, especially those with type O negative, A negative or B negative.

Versiti Blood Center of Indiana has issued an emergency appeal for blood donation, too. With less than a day’s supply of lifesaving blood on the shelves for Indiana hospitals, patients’ lives are at risk.

Versiti saw a significant decline in donations during the holiday season, and the downward trend continues as the region navigates ongoing winter weather. Unfortunately, the need for blood does not take a holiday, and more patients than ever before require lifesaving blood as part of their treatment.

Dr. Dan Waxman, vice president of transfusion medicine and senior medical director for Versiti, said as we welcome the new year, they are seeing an uptick in emergency room visits and trauma patients requiring mass blood transfusions, decimating the blood supply.

“Available blood across the state is dangerously low,” Waxman said. “We are asking those who are able to make an appointment to donate today and to encourage a friend or family member to do the same.”

Donated blood is used in a variety of ways. According to versiti.org, one in seven patients entering a hospital requires blood products. This ranges from trauma victims to patients battling sickle cell disease, thalassemia or those receiving an organ or bone marrow transplant.

Cancer patients use 25% of all blood donations, and blood transfusions are needed in one out of every 83 newborn deliveries in America today. This rate has increased by more than 50% between 2006 and 2015.

Everyone is likely to know someone who has needed or will need blood, and just one blood donation can possibly save up to three lives.

All blood types are needed with types O positive and O negative most in demand. O positive is the most common blood type. O negative blood is the universal type that can be received safely by all patients in emergencies when the blood type is unknown, while types A and B negative can be transfused to Rh positive or negative patients.

To schedule an appointment to donate blood, call 317-916-5150 or visit versiti.org for donor center information.

The donor center location closest to Jackson County is at 8739 S. U.S. 31, Greenwood.

Donating blood takes about an hour. Anyone age 17 or older in good health who meets eligibility requirements is encouraged to give. Parental consent is required for donors age 16 to donate blood. Donors should bring a photo ID that includes their birth date.

The American Red Cross and the NFL are partnering this month to invite football fans and blood donors to join the lifesaving team and score big for patients in need.

To thank donors for helping during the critical post-holiday time, those who come to give between now and Jan. 31 will automatically be entered to win a trip for two to Super Bowl LVII in Arizona.

The winner and guest will get to enjoy the Super Bowl in Glendale, Arizona, access to pregame activities, stadium tickets to the official Super Bowl Experience the day of the big game, round-trip airfare to Phoenix, three-night hotel accommodations (Feb. 10 to 13) and a $500 gift card for expenses.

Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning relied on his teammates to come together to get the win. This winter, he’s asking you to join a lifesaving team by donating blood, platelets or plasma to fend off shortages.

“If everyone does their part together and we collectively as a community commit to donating blood, we also can stack up more wins,” Manning said. “One person alone is certainly impactful, but a whole team of people coming together to donate has an even greater effect.”

Health emergencies don’t pause for holidays or game day. Donors are needed now, so consider stepping off of the sidelines and rolling up a sleeve to help patients in need.

To learn more about donating blood and to schedule an appointment, call 800-733-2767, visit redcrossblood.org/superbowl or download the Red Cross Blood Donor app.

The American Red Cross holds two blood drives this month in Jackson County.

The first will be from noon to 6 p.m. Jan. 19 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 605 S. Walnut St., Seymour. The second will be from 8 a.m. to noon Jan. 29 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 10792 N. County Road 210E, Seymour.

To learn more about donating blood and to schedule an appointment, call 800-733-2767, visit redcrossblood.org/superbowl or download the Red Cross Blood Donor app.