Red Cross praises bloody legends
GEELONG has given in a year of blood donations what the country needs to collect every week to meet patient needs.
New figures show more than 7800 local donors gave almost 25,000 blood donations in the past 12 months.
Australia needs to collect around the same number of blood, plasma and platelet donations every week to maintain supplies.
The supply is used regularly by those experiencing cancer or blood disorders, kidney dialysis, complications during pregnancy or labour, and road accident victims.
One in three people will need blood or a blood product in their lifetime and, while the spotlight is often put on rare blood types, it’s the common types that are most commonly required.
The most versatile blood type is O negative, known as the universal blood type that can be given to anyone.
Donations are sent to one of four national centres where they are processed, tested and later distributed.
If a donation is a specific match to a patient in need, it’s sent to wherever that patient may be across the country.
Speaking during National Blood Donor Week, Australian Red Cross Blood Service spokeswoman Stephanie Reynolds thanked existing Geelong donors and encouraged more to start.
“With donated blood only lasting 42 days we need a constant supply of blood donations, which means we need more people to donate blood more often,” she said.
“It takes just an hour of your time to donate blood and become a bloody legend, and every donation helps save three lives.”
To donate, call 13 14 95 or visit donateblood.com.au