Blood Blitz – To avoid Christmas blood shortage

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Blood Blitz – To avoid Christmas blood shortage

Australian Red Cross Lifeblood needs 6,800 additional blood donations between Christmas and New Year to avoid life-saving blood stocks running low. 

With many donors expected to travel and back-to-back long weekends coming up, Lifeblood is calling on people to factor a blood donation into their plans this festive season.

“It can be a challenging time for blood supplies – as the need for blood doesn’t stop over the holiday period” Lifeblood Executive Director Donor Services Cath Stone said.

Despite donors responding to a call out in record numbers last month, the need for short-lived platelets is constant. 

“Platelets only last for five days so we’re unable to stockpile them ahead of long weekends or busy periods,” Ms Stone said.

“Adding to the challenge is the fact that it takes blood donations from four people to make just one dose of platelets used to help cancer patients recover from their intensive treatments.” 

Those involved in road accidents, undergoing surgery, and women experiencing complications during childbirth will also be relying on blood donations to help them make it through.

“Timing is critical and the period between 26 December and 2 January is when platelet stocks are most under pressure,” Ms Stone said.

“Donating blood is one of the most powerful gifts you can give. For some it may give them more time with loved ones or improve their quality of life; for others, it could quite literally save their life.” 

Many donor centres around the nation will be open between Christmas and the New Year.

To check opening hours or to book a donation visit lifeblood.com.au, call 13 14 95 or download the Donate Blood app.

The breakdown of where donors are needed is as follows:

Location Number of donors needed
Brisbane 500 blood and plasma donors
Gold Coast 450 blood and plasma donors
Sunshine Coast 300 blood and plasma donors
Cairns 100 plasma donors
Townsville 150 plasma donors
Mackay 125 plasma donors
Rockhampton 100 blood and plasma donors
Gladstone 75 blood and plasma donors
Bundaberg 100 blood and plasma donors
Hervey Bay Over 100 blood and plasma donors
Toowoomba Over 130 blood and plasma donors
Lismore 150 blood and plasma donors