As the winter season approaches its full fury of cold and ice, accidents on and off the road increase, sparking a heightened need for blood donations.

One organization that notices the increase is the Blood Bank Center.

However, the winter season is not necessarily the only season when blood is needed the most.

Meg Shearer, the director of public relations at The Blood Center said, “Actually, it rises two times a year. One time is during the summer. It also increases around January. People put off elective surgeries until around January.”

Shearer added that people tend to not want elective operations before vacation times such as Christmas.

Shearer said the season affects the amount of blood donated because of medical reasons as well.

“Cold and flu season makes people ineligible to donate. The virus in their blood,” Shearer said. She added that donors also have to be off of any medication 24 hours before being able to donate.

“If you have a runny nose or sore throat we cannot use you,” Shearer said.

John Elliot, the supervisor of Mary Greeley Medical Center, had other reasons why the blood supply at Mary Greeley Center is affected by the winter season. The center utilizes what blood it takes in.

“I do notice it is harder for people to [donate]. The roads are bad and people just don’t come in. Our need is level. Our need doesn’t fluctuate much,” Elliot said.

The Blood Center of Central Iowa provides blood to hospitals from the many donors who donate each day. The Blood Center of Central Iowa needs up to 1,000 donors a week to meet the demand from hospitals. The amount of blood collected each year for The Blood Center of Central Iowa is 52,000 units. The Mary Greeley Medical Center receives about 200-215 units each month.

Beside the supply needed for accidents and operations, the largest need for blood is actually for cancer treatment.

“People undergoing chemotherapy need regular blood transfusions. After cancer treatment is heart disease, then accidents,” Shearer said.

Elliot agreed that cancer treatment often creates a need for a great deal of blood.

“I would say it is a toss up between the oncology unit and the rest of the hospital,” Elliot said.

Many may wonder why with such a large need for blood donations, people do not donate their blood. Shearer said some people believe their particular blood type is not needed. However, she said, blood types should not be a factor. Rare blood types are not necessarily needed the most.

Shearer said, “The most common types are needed the most.” Shearer added that, O+, a universal donor type, is well stocked in most hospitals. O type donors are often called back to donate more.