The Australian Red Cross Lifeblood has made a call for people with O negative blood to donate over the next fortnight, as consecutive long weekends threaten supplies.
Lifeblood said that its own reserves of the emergency blood type – needed by trauma and accident patients – have dropped to their lowest point in 12 months.
Lifeblood’s executive director of donor services Cath Stone said that nearly 40 donor centres will open across Australia on Good Friday, a record number in order to give all blood types a much-needed boost.
“The need for blood is often unplanned and urgent,” Ms Stone said.
“This time of year is when many of our donors take a well-deserved break, but the next two weeks are shaping up to be particularly difficult with back-to-back long weekends for Easter and ANZAC Day.
“We urgently need 4,500 people of all blood types to book a donation before Easter Monday, and a further 7,500 through to ANZAC Day, and we need them to come back for a second donation when they are next eligible, to ensure we can keep hospital fridges well stocked.”
O negative makes up 15% of hospital orders across the country while fewer than 7% of the population have that blood type.
