THE Australian Red Cross Lifeblood Mobile Donor Centre will be back in Swan Hill from next week.
Lifeblood is making a twin appeal for blood and plasma donors to try and boost supplies now and through the Easter period.
Lifeblood executive director Cath Stone said that demand for blood from hospitals was at its highest level in nearly a decade.
“We now have more donors than at any point in the past 10 years, however demand for blood groups, especially O negative, continues to increase as hospitals catch up on surgeries post pandemic,” she said.
Lifeblood needs 3600 people to donate blood over the next week, and in particular people who are A, B, O positive and O negative.
“In particular, O negative has the universal blood type and is used to treat patents when their blood type is unknown,” Ms Stone said.
“It’s often stocked in ambulances and rescue helicopters to be used for trauma patients who can require huge quantities in a short amount of time.
“Fewer than 7 per cent of the Australian population is O negative, making it one of the rarer blood types, however its versatility means it makes up 16 per cent of the blood ordered by hospitals.”
Ms Stone said the Easter period is often one of the most challenging times of the year for Lifeblood, hence the push for donations.
“The need for blood is often unplanned and urgent and Easter is often a time when many of our donors take a break,” Ms Stone said.
“With one in three of us needing donated blood or blood products in our lifetime, the life you save could be that of friend or family member.”
The Lifeblood Mobile Blood Donor Centre will be at the Curlewis Street carpark in Swan Hill from March 27 to 31, then April 3-6, and April 10-14. Spots can be booked on the Lifeblood app or website, or by calling 131 495.
SWAN HILL SCHEDULE
March 27-31
Monday: 4pm-6pm
Tuesday: 12.30pm-7.30pm
Wednesday: 1pm-7.30pm
Thursday: 9.30am-4.30pm
Friday: 7.45am-10.15am
April 3-6
Monday: 4pm-6pm
Tuesday: 12.30pm-7.30pm
Wednesday: 1pm-7.30pm
Thursday: 7.45am-10.15am
April 10-14
Monday: 4pm-6pm
Tuesday: 12.30pm-7.30pm
Wednesday: 1pm-7.30pm
Thursday: 9.30am-4.30pm
Friday: 7.45am-10.15am
