Blood donors needed this Christmas

There is no substitute for blood which is needed somewhere in Australia every 18 seconds.

With consecutive long weekends coming up, and half of all blood donation appointments still not being attended, Australian Red Cross Lifeblood is calling for an additional 9,000 people to roll up their sleeves over the Christmas break. 

“Christmas can be a challenging time for Lifeblood, as some of our regular donors take time out to celebrate and catch up with family and friends,” Lifeblood Executive Director of Donor Services, Cath Stone said.

“This year we are anticipating many of our regular donors will take the opportunity to travel now that much of the country and our international borders have reopened.”

Lifeblood said 9,000 donors were needed between Boxing Day and January 3 to ensure patients receive the blood and blood products they need over the festive season, with appointments to be filled right across the country.

In recent weeks, appointment “no shows” have reached a record high with one in two not being attended.

• Nambour Donor Centre is at Nambour General Hospital, 19 Nambour-Mapleton Road, Nambour. To donate call 13 14 95, visit lifeblood.com.au or download the app.