Donate blood today, save lives tomorrow

14 January 2011

The Australian Red Cross Blood Service is urging people to donate blood, particularly anyone who has not donated for a while, or has not yet become a blood donor.

According to the Red Cross Blood Service, although one in three people will need blood, there is only one person in 30 willing to supply it.

Donated blood is distributed to a wide range of people, including cancer patients; people living with heart, stomach and bowel disease; trauma and accident victims and babies and pregnant women.

At this time of year, with many regular donors away on vacation, blood stocks drop dramatically. Yet the demand - almost 27,000 donations a week - remains constant, especially for the rarer blood types.

New blood donor centre in Caulfield

A new blood donor centre was opened in Caulfield on 10 January, offering the Glen Eira community greater opportunities to boost donor numbers.

With more than 14 donor chairs, the centre will collect more than 6000 lifesaving blood donations over the next eight months. The centre will also be able to receive plasma and platelet donations.

Red Cross Blood Service spokesperson, Alison Melville, said the centre will replace the mobile units that previously existed in Glen Eira, providing a more convenient and pleasant environment to donate blood.

"The new donor centre includes couches, interview rooms and improved donor facilities including flat screen televisions," Ms Melville said.

The Caulfield Blood Donor Centre is located at 322 Hawthorn Road, Caulfield.

Booking an appointment

Blood donor appointments can be made online or by calling 13 14 95.

Further information about donating blood is available on the Red Cross Blood Service website.