Counting on the North once more

The Far North has long given strong support to the NZ Blood Service, and the organisation is hoping that the district will be generous once again when it arrives next month.

Donors will be needed at the Kaitaia RSA on Tuesday May 22 (10am to 4pm), and at the Turner Centre in Kerikeri on Wednesday and Thursday May 23-24 (1pm to 6pm and 9am to 3pm respectively). Donors will be asked for photo ID. While the technology involved in blood transfusions and the use of blood products continues to evolve, or perhaps because of those advances, there has been no easing in demand for donors.

Some 42,000 patients receive blood or blood products every year, but currently fewer than 4 per cent of New Zealanders donate.

The New Zealand Blood Service, which is the sole provider of blood products to hospitals, needs 3000 donations, each of which has the potential to save up to three lives, every week to meet hospital needs.

The pressure to continuously collect is not eased by the fact that blood, once donated, only has a useful life of 35 days.

“We rely on the generosity of donors to save lives. Please help by giving blood,” a spokesman said, adding that knowing they would be helping others was not the only reward for donors. Everyone who gives blood is welcome to a cup of tea or coffee, or juice, and a chocolate biscuit or two before they go home or back to work.