PEOPLE are rolling up their sleeves and pre-booking donations as the mobile blood donor centre prepares to roll into Swan Hill.
The centre will be stationed at the Curlewis Street public car park, from June 9 to 20 with various operating times.
The visit coincides with National Blood Donor Week (June 8-15).
One in three people in Swan Hill will need blood during their lives.
It comes as Lifeblood appealed for an extra 9500 donations of O positive and O negative blood across the country in the next seven days, with the largest number needed in Victoria.
In the state, 3500 donations are required to continue to meet patient demand as O type blood supplies drop to their lowest point since 2023.
The Alfred hospital has joined with Lifeblood to stress how critical a reliable, ongoing blood supply is for patients facing cancer, heart surgery, trauma, severe burns, blood disorders and other conditions.
The hospital’s deputy director of emergency services Dr Rohan Laging said donated blood was a valued and precious resource, and can be the difference between life or death.
“Hospitals are dependent on blood to keep patients alive and achieve the best outcomes for them,” Dr Laging said.
“The Alfred has the busiest emergency and trauma centre in the Southern Hemisphere and every day Lifeblood sends us around 200 bags of blood to enable us to perform life-saving interventions.
“O+ and O- are the blood types most frequently needed because they can be used in emergency situations when a patient’s blood type is unknown.
“A blood transfusion has an immediate effect. It helps patients breathe. It helps their blood pressure and vital functions.
“Some of our patients may need 30 or 40 bags of blood – that’s 30 or 40 donations from individuals in the community.
“Blood donors truly are lifesavers.”
Each day Lifeblood issues close to 10,000 blood products and medications to hospitals around the country to meet patient demand, including more than 2500 for Victoria.
Lifeblood executive director of strategy and growth Stuart Chesneau said people were rescheduling or cancelling their appointments at the highest rates since June last year.
“Around 9000 appointments are cancelled, rescheduled or not attended each week in Victoria at the moment,” he said.
“But the need for blood does not stop.
“If you’ve never donated before and don’t know your blood type, coming in to donate is a great way to find out, and you get the chance to save a life.”
A blood donation appointment takes about an hour, with the donation itself only lasting up to 10 minutes.
To make a donation in Swan Hill, call 13 14 95 or book online at lifeblood.com.au or download the DonateBlood App.
The mobile centre will return to Swan Hill from September 15-26.
Opening hours:
Monday, June 9: 4pm-6pm
Tuesday, June 10 and Wednesday, June 11: 12.30pm-7.30pm
Thursday, June 12: 9.30am-4.30pm
Friday, June 13: 7.45am-10.15am
Monday, June 16: 4pm-6pm
Tuesday, June 17 and Wednesday, June 18: 12.30pm-7.30pm
Thursday, June 19: 9.30am-4.30pm
Friday, June 20: 7.45am-10.15am
