Donating blood is an easy way to help someone in need this Christmas.

Australian Red Cross Lifeblood is amid its annual Christmas Blood Blitz to prevent a blood shortage over the festive season and boost supplies for patients in need.

An extra 830 donations a day are needed across the country between December 22 and January 2 to meet hospital demand and boost supply for patients in need.

New mums, newborn babies, trauma victims and cancer patients are just a few of those who rely on blood donations, with platelets particularly critical as it only lasts for seven days.

ACT Spokeperson Sally Deveson says their teams are ready to take donations over the festive season

“ACT donor centers are open every day, Garran Donor Centre is open Christmas Day and New Years Day, and the Civic Donor Centre is open every day except Christmas Day and New Years Day.

Our mobile donor centre will be in Gungahlin for the new year.

The Christmas season, with all the public holidays, we find the demand for blood products is at it’s highest. Patients don’t take a break, so we need to see more donors over the Christmas break.

The need for blood and plasma never stops. “

Ms Deveson says they’re in particular need of blood and plasma donations from anyone with A and O blood types.

You can find more details on the Lifeblood website.