Blood donors are needed as the state sees supplies slip. Many of Iowa’s hospitals have seen their supply of blood dip recently as a result of poor weather and the Christmas and New Year’s holidays effecting donation efforts. Kirby Winn, Director of Public Relations with the Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center, tells KCII News, winter storms and the holidays have taken their toll on blood drives across the region with canceled events and fewer donors. During the holidays and snow storms blood donations can fall as much as 70% from normal days.

The process of donating blood typically takes less than an hour. The actual donation typically takes five to 10 minutes. To find a location to donate visit bloodcenter.org.