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TUESDAY, Jan. 13 (HealthDayNews) -- Gift-giving may be a hallmark of the holiday season, but in the rush to make sure no one is left out Americans often make one crucial omission -- the nation's blood banks.

"Almost always during the holidays, we suffer a serious shortage," says Dr. Jerry Squires, chief medical officer for the American Red Cross.

Adds Dr. Kathleen Sazama, president of the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB): "Around this time of year, between Thanksgiving and the end of January, and also the Fourth of July through Labor Day, [are] the most difficult times in terms of the obvious competition for donor time that occurs."

That's why January is designated National Volunteer Blood Donor Month. Once again, the theme for this year's campaign, "Give Blood The Gift of Life," highlights the importance of "giving the gift of life through the donation of blood," the AABB says.

January is typically a tough month for blood centers looking to collect donations. Some of the reasons are seasonal in nature: Fewer people donate blood during the holidays, the weather's bad and more people are sick.

This January is no different.

The nation's blood banks -- represented by the American Association of Blood Banks, America's Blood Centers and the American Red Cross -- are asking for immediate donations to boost already critically low blood supplies.

National inventory levels have dropped well below a safe and adequate supply. Certain critical blood types are nearing depletion and in some areas of the country elective surgeries have been postponed or cancelled, officials say.

"We are joining the blood banking community to emphasize the significance of the need to donate blood," U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy G. Thompson says. "The nation is facing critical shortages in communities across the country. If blood supplies do not immediately increase, patients, accident victims and those whose lives depend on regular transfusions, are at risk for not getting the blood they need. Every eligible individual should give blood, if not for themselves, for their friends, their loved ones or their neighbors."

Fixing the problem is simple, Squires says. A regular donor usually gives blood once or twice a year. "If everyone would just donate one time more, we'd have enough blood, we wouldn't have shortages and everyone would get the blood they need," he says.

About 8 million volunteers donate blood each year in the United States, according to the AABB. All told, about 15 million units of whole blood and red blood cells were donated in 2001, the National Blood Data Resource Center says.

And about half the donations are collected by the Red Cross, Squires estimates, with the other half coming to community blood centers such as America's Blood Centers, a national nonprofit network.

But during the busy holiday season, donations drop off dramatically, creating life-and-death scenarios.

An any given day, about 38,000 units of red blood cells are needed for accident victims, heart surgery patients, those undergoing organ transplants and people getting cancer treatments, the AABB says.

So it's critical, Squires says, that people donate regularly to keep the supply high enough to meet not only routine needs for transfusions -- such as surgeries -- but also crises such as the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C.

Although 9/11, like other disasters, spurred an upsurge in donations nationwide, the blood given immediately after a crisis doesn't help the victims directly, Squires says. "Whenever there is a disaster, it is the blood of the people who have donated the week before that is used," he says, due to the time needed to screen donated blood to make sure it's safe.

Persuading more people to become regular donors -- or getting those who donate to donate a bit more -- would solve the shortages, Squires says. "You can donate every two months," he says. "It is an entirely safe procedure."

Before a donation, people are asked basic information, such as their disease history and any medications they may be taking regularly. "We ask about hepatitis and other diseases that could be passed through the blood," Squires says.

Blood pressure also is measured. Then a tiny drop of blood is taken from the finger to be sure the iron level is normal, Squires says.

The minimum age to donate is dictated by states, Squires says, with 17 the norm. A person must weigh at least 110 pounds. "We want to be sure the volume of blood we take out doesn't make the person feel lightheaded or faint," he says.

"We ask you to stay around another 15 minutes or so," Squires says. Donors are given orange juice, cookies or other snacks.

The entire process takes about an hour, Squires says, with the actual collection time 10 minutes or less.

Donating white cells takes longer, up to three hours, Sazama says.

After donating, people should avoid their usual exercise routine but it's OK to resume it the next day, Sazama advises.

Donating regularly takes only about three hours a year, if whole blood is donated, Squires says. "If you donate once, you are helping two to three people. Donate twice, six people; three times, nine people. It's a nice return on your investment."

More information

To learn more about blood and blood banking, visit the American Association of Blood Banks, the American Red Cross or America's Blood Centers.

(SOURCES: Jerry Squires, M.D., Ph.D., chief medical officer, American Red Cross, Washington, D.C.; Kathleen Sazama, M.D., J.D., president, American Association of Blood Banks, and professor, laboratory medicine, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston )

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