The festive season is well and truly upon us as everyone rushes around making last-minute Christmas preparations - so giving blood is unlikely to be at the top of many people's list of things to do.

However, taking just an hour out of your busy day can literally help save a life at a time when blood stocks are usually low.

Every year around Christmas and New Year donations can drop by as much as a fifth because of the bad weather, people taking time off and thousands jetting out of the country.

I owe my life to the medical profession, so I know just how important it is to keep blood stocks as high as possible.

I was only five years old when I suffered horrendous injuries when I was knocked down by a truck outside my house, which resulted in a broken leg and pelvis and severed nerves.

A major artery was also crushed so I needed a considerable amount of blood to treat my injuries.

During the months in hospital recovering and the operations to insert pins in my legs I needed six pints of blood.

Every person who suffers a serious injury or who undergoes major surgery needs blood, and the thousands of people across the country who give blood each day are giving the gift of a full life to so many.

I might have needed nearly a gallon, but just a few teaspoons can make the difference between life and death to a new-born baby.

The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service particularly need donations of O Negative type, which can be given to anyone in an emergency and is the only safe option when a patient's own blood group is not immediately available.

It can also be given during specialised procedures for unborn babies, and remember, new mums often need blood after difficult childbirths.

Right now there are nine days of O Negative supplies left and only five days' supply of B Negative.

Although B Negative is relatively rare, supplies must be maintained in case of emergencies and five days is the absolute minimum needed.

The SNBTS is a vital organisation; it also collects heart valves, tendons and bones for use in surgery but don't worry, you won't be expected to donate them as well when you go in to donate!

With only one in 20 Scots giving blood, it is more important than ever for existing and new donors to come forward over the holiday period.

If you are already a regular donor and are in town for your Christmas shopping, please take a break from the retail therapy and pop into Glasgow's Blood Donor Centre in Nelson Mandela Place.

While we are all looking forward to having some time off and spending time with our families it would be just a small sacrifice to give a pint a blood.

If you have never given blood before make this Christmas your first time.

It really could be the gift of life for someone this Christmas.