With only a month until spring arrives it is time to beat the winter cold and flu shortages, and help combat a drop off in donations.

Historically, cold and flu symptoms wipe out as many as 1000 blood donors a week nationally.

Blood Service spokesperson Stuart Ward said around 500,000 Aussies and 1500 Port Macquarie residents actively give blood.

“But these numbers traditionally drop as the cold weather sets in," he said.

"We see a high number of donors cancelling appointments, because you need to be feeling 100 per cent fit and well to donate.”

While all blood groups are important, the Blood Service is particularly appealing for more O negative donors.

O negative is the universal blood type so it is critical to treating patients in emergency situations when their blood type is unknown to clinicians,

Only 9 percent of the population has the O negative blood type, yet there is a high demand for this blood group from hospitals.

Mr Ward urged everyone who can donate to do so.

"The need for blood never stops, and patients fighting cancer, infections and blood diseases are relying on donated blood to keep them healthy throughout winter,” he said.

Donors who are affected by cold and flu symptoms are able to give blood at least seven days after making a full recovery.

Most people are able to give blood if they feel fit and healthy, are aged between 18 and 70 and weigh over 50 kilograms.

One in three Australians will need blood or blood products in their lifetime, which can include you or a loved one. One in 30 Australians give blood each year, which is only three per cent, however Australia needs more than 25,000 donations every week.

Demand for blood and blood products will grow by 100 per cent over the next 10 years.

Make an appointment to donate blood this winter - call 13 14 95 or visit donateblood.com.au