News

Urgent call: Blood supplies hit by floods and winter illness

By Anna McGuinness

Jul 14, 2022

Give: You can donate blood in the Goulburn Valley at the Shepparton Blood Donor Centre.

An urgent call for donors has been issued by Australian Red Cross Lifeblood in light of floods, road closures and winter illness preventing some people from donating.

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Every week 33,000 donations are needed to support patients, with about one third usually collected from NSW donor centres, which have been especially hard hit.

Lifeblood’s reserves of platelets to stock hospitals, used to stop bleeding in accidents, and in emergencies and chemotherapy, have been reduced as a result.

Spokesperson Cath Stone said donors who were fit and well, and safely able to get to a donor centre, were needed now.

“Colds, flu and COVID are continuing to sideline donors, with one in two appointments not being attended,” she said.

“Right now, demand for platelets in NSW is the highest it’s been in 15 months due to increased activity in hospitals.”

Between July 12 to 19 alone, Lifeblood needed 1500 blood donations in Victoria and 5500 nationwide.

Lifeblood needs all blood types but is particularly keen to hear from people with the universal blood type used in emergencies, O negative.

If any businesses, community groups or government departments want to learn more about getting their group involved in donating blood, visit lifeblood.com.au/blood/donate-as-a-group or call 13 14 95.

To book an appointment visit lifeblood.com.au/blood/making-your-donation or call 13 14 95.

The Shepparton Blood Donor Centre is located at 210-216 Corio St, Coles Car park, entrance via Vaughan St, and is open Monday to Friday and every second Saturday.