RACINE COUNTY - More people are experiencing flu-like symptoms this year, which means more people are staying home instead of donating blood.

The Blood Center of Wisconsin has experienced an increase in canceled blood donation appointments due to the seasonal flu and H1N1 flu, and the American Red Cross has seen a decrease in blood donations, according to officials.

These changes come at the start of the busy holiday season, a time when blood donations are already lower than usual, said Sarah Stevermer, spokeswoman for the American Red Cross.

While she and other blood donation officials are not yet worried about the blood supply in Racine County and across the state, they are still asking people to "step up" and donate.

"We have a very loyal (donor) base but now we are looking for anyone who is healthy and has an interest in making a lifesaving difference to come in and help us out," said Liana Wayda, director of operations and sales support for the Blood Center of Wisconsin, which Wayda said is the primary blood provider for Racine County hospitals.

Compared to last year at this time, the Blood Center of Wisconsin has so far had twice as many blood donation appointments canceled by people calling in sick, Wayda said.

To combat that "concern," the blood center has started increasing publicity about blood donation drives by informing frequent donors about events in their communities. But the center is still seeing an average of 10 to 20 percent fewer donors than usual at those events, Wayda said.

The American Red Cross has also seen a decrease in blood donations locally and across the country since July, said Stevermer. She could not directly attribute that entire decrease to H1N1 or the seasonal flu because she said the economy could also be a factor.

While having a flu does not make one's blood tainted with the virus, it does mean that individual should not donate, said Jerry Gottschall, medical director for the Blood Center of Wisconsin.

"The first question we ask a donor when they come in is: Are they well and healthy?" Gottschall said. "We do not accept donors who are feeling ill when they come in for the safety of the patient who may receive the blood, and people who are ill just don't feel well and it would not be good for them on that day either."

Just because officials are looking out for blood recipients' safety does not mean patients could receive the flu from someone else's blood, Gottschall said.

"At this time, there is no evidence that the flu, seasonal or H1N1, can be transmitted by a blood transfusion," Gottschall said.

The American Red Cross also has not found any documented cases of the H1N1 virus being transmitted through blood transfusions, Stevermer said.