So, where the bloody hell are you now?

BEFORE you spend all of the silly season kicking back on the beach or other holiday hot spots, Victoria’s blood donor centres have an critical question to ask: Where the bloody hell are you?

With the state’s lifesaving blood supplies at risk of drying up between the difficult Christmas and New Year period, 400 Victorian donors are needed to roll up their sleeves over the next two days.

While many donors go on holiday and are unavailable at this time of year, more than 29,000 blood donations are still needed across Australia each week to meet demand for patients in emergencies.

As Australian Red Cross Lifeblood launches “Blood Blitz” seeking 7500 blood donations to ensure critical stocks do not run low, Victoria’s Acting Health Minister, Martin Foley, will today visit the Melbourne CBD Blood Donor Centre to thank those giving up their time — and blood — to help others.

“At this time of year people cancel, postpone or fail to show up for blood donation appointments, which can have a real impact on blood supply,” Mr Foley said.

“I encourage all eligible Victorians give the gift of life by making a blood donation this holiday season.”

Because platelets needed to overcome life-threatening bleeding from road accidents and in other emergency situations can only last for five days, they cannot be stockpiled to cover the silly season.

Australian Red Cross Lifeblood spokeswoman Maureen Bower said it required donations from four people to make just one bag of platelets and she urged anyone who could to make a donation.