Lifeblood urges donations over long weekends

AUSTRALIAN Red Cross Lifeblood says Victoria needs an additional 2600 blood donors across the back-to-back national public holiday weekends.

It is the first time since 2019 that there have been two consecutive national public holiday weekends for Easter and Anzac Day.

“We know that blood supplies are at greatest risk of falling during the holiday period and with more than a third of the country expected to take a break in the next two weeks, there will be less people donating life-saving blood and plasma,” the organisation said.

“Everyone deserves a holiday, but we’re asking people to donate before or after they go, or even donate while they’re away, at the more than 100 donation sites across the country.”

 

 

Every day, Lifeblood issues more than 9500 bags of blood and plasma and medications to Australian hospitals and the need for blood does not stop.

As well as donating before travel, Lifeblood is asking people to consider making an appointment to donate on the way to their holiday destination or when they get there – if they are travelling within Australia.

Lifeblood is also reminding people not to rule themselves out of donating if they are travelling overseas during the Easter holidays, as they may be eligible.

The organisation noted that just one donation can save up to three lives.

Most Lifeblood donor centres across the country will be open across the long weekends, including on the public holidays.

Anyone who donates between April 14 and May 25 will receive an exclusive Easter-themed bandage by Melbourne artist Alice Oehr.

To find your nearest donor centre and book an appointment, head to lifeblood.com.au, phone 13 14 95, or download the Donate Blood App.