Victorians are again being encouraged to roll up their sleeves and donate blood to save a life this spring – as ongoing high demand for blood products continues.
According to lifeblood, the Red Cross’ blood donation service, there continues to be record high demand for blood, with around 33,000 donations needed every week to meet demand, or one donation every 18 seconds.
Victoria has some of the highest blood donation rates in Australia with more than 7,000 Victorians having made more than 100 blood donations – more than anywhere else in the country.
However, health minister Mary-Anne Thomas encouraged Victorians to still donate more.
“The simple act of donating blood can quite literally save someone’s life – if you can donate, there’s few better ways to spend your time,” she said.
Blood provided by donors is used in a range of treatments, including for those who have had surgery, those receiving cancer treatment, women in childbirth, people with blood disorders, and trauma patients.
Lifeblood collects more than 1.6 million blood and plasma donations each year – plasma is a vital component of blood. It can take up to 13 plasma donations to make a single vial of some plasma medicines.
Lifeblood executive director of donor experience Cath Stone said every donation was vital.
“One in three people will need blood or blood products in their lifetime, and your donation could be the lifeline someone desperately needs.”
Those looking to donate blood can schedule an appointment by calling 13 14 95 or at lifeblood.com.au.
