New York State Department of Health Highlights Urgent Need for Blood Donations During National Blood Donor Month

Urgent Need for Blood Donations Fueled by Holidays, Inclement Weather and Severe Respiratory Illness Season

Find Nearby Locations to Donate Blood Here and Here.

ALBANY, N.Y. (January 8, 2026) – The New York State Department of Health is urging eligible New Yorkers to give the gift of life by donating blood this January, which is National Blood Donor Month. There is an urgent need for blood donations driven by a combination of declining donations during the holidays, recent inclement weather and the impact of an increasingly severe flu season.

"There's a great need for blood donations following the holiday season and the compounding impact of recent bad weather and a particularly tough respiratory illness season has resulted in fewer blood drives and a significant drop in overall donations," State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said. "Donating blood is a selfless act that can save the lives of patients who are suffering from traumatic injuries, undergoing surgery or fighting cancer. Just one donation can help multiple people, so I encourage everyone who is eligible to roll up their sleeve and give the gift of life during this time of need."

Recently the New York Blood Center declared a blood emergency, noting their organization has seen a drop in donations to nearly 40 percent below what is needed to meet hospital demand.

The American Red Cross has also alerted to a growing risk of a blood shortage following the holiday season and is calling on donors to start off the new year by becoming a blood donor and giving the generous gift of life to someone in need.

Jeannie Mascolino, Vice President of Blood Operations at New York Blood Center, said, "January is always one of the most challenging months for the blood supply, and this year the combination of holiday disruptions, winter weather, and a severe respiratory illness season has made the situation even more critical. We are incredibly grateful for the donors who continue to show up, but we urgently need more New Yorkers to step forward now to help ensure hospitals have the blood they need for surgeries, cancer treatments, trauma care, and other lifesaving procedures."

Dr. Lawrence B. Fialkow, Divisional Medical Officer of the American Red Cross, said, "We honor the extraordinary generosity of the millions of people who roll up their sleeves to give blood. Blood donors are the unsung heroes in hospitals, ensuring patients have the lifesaving care they need when it matters most. Every day, our dedicated donors demonstrate that a simple act — giving just an hour of their time — can have a profound, lifesaving impact. The start of the year is one of the most challenging times to collect blood, as severe winter weather, seasonal illnesses and post-holiday schedules can disrupt donations. During National Blood Donor Month, we encourage more individuals to join our national blood donor community to help save lives."

According to the American Red Cross, every 2 seconds someone in the United States needs blood or platelets and just one donation can help save multiple lives. While all blood types are needed, the type most often requested by hospitals is type O. Universal donors are those with an O negative blood type, which can be given to patients of any blood type and is most commonly used in emergencies when the blood type of a patient is unknown.

New Yorkers can find nearby locations to donate blood by visiting either the American Red Cross website or the New York Blood Center website.