The American Red Cross announced that it is experiencing the lowest number of people giving blood in the last 20 years, in what the organization says is an emergency shortage.

In all, the Red Cross says that the number of people donating blood has dropped by 40% over the last two decades, and that the shortage could worsen in coming months if winter weather or seasonal respiratory illnesses like the flu or COVID-19 cause people to cancel their donation appointments.

The Red Cross said this week, there was a nearly 7,000-unit shortfall in blood donations between Christmas and New Year’s Day alone, which can have drastic consequences for people who are in need of lifesaving transfusions.

January is National Blood Donor Month and the American Red Cross is urging people to make plans to give blood and is urging people to schedule an appointment by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor app, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Individuals who give blood, platelets, or plasma this January have the chance to win a trip for two to the Super Bowl.