With over a third of Australians planning to travel during April, Lifeblood is urging the public to donate blood before or during their holiday to prevent a significant impact on the nation’s blood supplies.
The Easter and ANZAC Day public holidays bring a unique challenge for Lifeblood, as it potentially extends time off work to ten days with only three days of annual leave. The extended public holidays can have an intense impact on blood donations.
Cath Stone, a spokesperson for Lifeblood shared, “Easter is traditionally a quiet time for us and throw in the fact that millions of Australians will be taking advantage of the public holidays and extended leave options, donation might not be top of mind.
“The great thing about our donor centre network is that there are more than 100 Lifeblood donation sites across the country so the opportunity to save a life is never too far away. We’ve got donor centres in some very popular destinations, including the Gold Coast, Far North Queensland, northern and country NSW, the WA coast, and Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula and High Country.
“Whether you’re heading off on a road trip or just taking some extra days off work, make your holiday your reason to donate, all while making a big difference to people who rely on blood products.
“If you’re heading overseas, you might have to wait to donate blood, but you could be eligible to donate plasma as soon as you’re back. Visit our website to check your eligibility because it can change depending on where you travelled to. You never know – you could be able to save a life sooner than you think.”
Over the long weekends, most Lifeblood donor centres will remain open, making sure there’s ample opportunity for the community to donate.
In the next two weeks, a national requirement of 8,000 new donors is needed.
- Victoria – 2,600
- NSW – 2,500
- Queensland – 1,300
- Western Australia – 700
- South Australia – 300
- ACT – 300
- Tasmania – 250
- Northern Territory – 50
Plus, anyone donating between April 14th and May 15th will receive a specially designed, Easter-themed bandage created by Melbourne artist Alice Oeh.
For those interested in donating, Lifeblood encourages potential donors to check eligibility and book an appointment via their website, contact centre, or through the Donate Blood App. This crucial act of giving is heavily promoted during the holiday season, ensuring that the supply of life-saving blood and plasma continues uninterrupted across Australian hospitals.
For more information, click here.
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