Blood donations typically drop off around the holidays, making National Blood Donor Month in January and important time to share the message about saving lives by giving blood. The COVID-19 pandemic also has affected blood donations.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has really had an adverse effect on us recruiting and collecting blood donors in general," says Dr. Justin Juskewitch, associate medical director of Mayo Clinic Blood Donor Services.

Millions of people need blood transfusions each year. Some may need blood during surgery. Others depend on it after an accident or because they have a disease that requires blood components. Blood donation makes this possible.

"The inventory of today was the donations of yesterday," explains Dr. Juskewitch. "So paying it forward is also a really great way of helping take care of others. And then those others will be there for you when you meet your time of need. It's a great way to start the new year."

On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Juskewitch discusses how to become a blood donor.

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Urgent need for blood donation