December 17, 2015
The Australian Red Cross needs an extra 10,000 people to donate blood over the holidays to prevent a shortage of blood products used daily by cancer patients.
According to the Red Cross Blood Service, each week more than a third of all blood donations are used by cancer patients.
These donations are in such high demand they cannot be stockpiled, and so a constant stream of donors is required.
To counter the shortfall, the Blood Service has launched a Christmas Blood Blitz blood drive to fill appointments and raise awareness of the need for blood during this critical time of year.
Blood Service spokesman Shaun Inguanzo said the shortfall of donors was due to “holiday mode”.
“The need for blood never takes a break and donated blood will be needed every day over the next fortnight to help treat many sick and seriously ill Australians,” he said.
“Some of the components used by cancer patients are used daily and cannot be stockpiled, so we need a constant flow of donations.
“Holidays can also be a time of severe road trauma. Although there are fewer of these patients, they individually require many litres of donated blood.
“One in three of us will need a blood transfusion in our lifetime. The life you save this Christmas could be your own or that of a loved one.”
For more information, call 13-14-95 or visit www.donateblood.com.au
- Footnote: The mobile blood collection van will be in Lamb Street, Murgon, on Saturday, January 16, between 7:00am and 2:00pm.
When I went online I found the nearest place to Kingaroy to make a donation was Nambour and I notice the mobile van will not be in Murgon till January 16. You mustn’t need donations in the South Burnett very seriously.