Adelaide City Council is encouraging people to roll up their sleeves and give blood during National Blood Donor Week, an initiative by the Australian Red Cross Blood Service held from 17-23 July.
The week is to recognise and thank donors while raising awareness in the wider community about the continued need for blood.
Council’s Rundle Street Lantern will pulse red each night from 5.30 until 7.30 to act as a vibrant reminder of the need for blood donors. Lord Mayor Stephen Yarwood will also be rolling up his sleeves to donate.
“Donating only takes about an hour but each donation can save up to three lives,” Stephen said.
“One in three Australians will need blood in their lifetime but currently only one in 30 people donate. To put it in perspective, out of the 20,000-odd people who live in the city, nearly 7,000 of them could need blood at some time. If you’re fit and healthy then you could help save someone’s life.”
With the demand for blood and blood products set to double in the next decade, there will always be a need for as many donors as possible.
Donating blood can help to save the lives of unborn babies, cancer patients, trauma victims, patients undergoing emergency surgery, and those on renal dialysis. Australia needs 27,000 blood donations per week for those people who need it.
Alex Frolow, Donor Services Manager at the Blood Service in South Australia, said, "We want to say thank you to our donors for the 1.3 million blood donations they make every year. Without them, the lives of the one in three Australians who need blood would be at risk."
All blood collected in Australia comes from volunteer donors and is processed, tested and then supplied to hospitals at no charge to be administered to patients in need, also free of charge.
If you’re aged between 16-70 years, weigh more than 45 kilos and are feeling well, then you may be able to donate blood.
To book an appointment to donate blood, call 13 14 95 or to find out more visit www.donateblood.com.au. There are two centrally located centres in the city in Currie Street and Pirie Street.
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