Australian Red Cross Lifeblood is calling for more donors this Easter, as the organisation’s stocks of O-negative blood continue to drop.
Lifeblood Executive Director of Donor Services, Cath Stone, said other blood types also need a boost, but O-negative blood type was particularly important over the Easter period.
“O-negative is the universal blood type and can be given to anyone in an emergency, such as a road trauma, when there simply isn’t time to find out someone’s blood type,” she said.
“Only nine per cent of Australians have O-negative blood, but it makes up 17 per cent of orders from hospitals because it saves lives in emergencies.
“Our stocks of O and A blood types are lower than we’d like, so an extra 8,000 blood donations are needed immediately to boost blood supplies back to normal levels.”
Donor centres across the country, including in Jamisontown, will be open across the long weekend for those able to donate.
To book a donation, visit lifeblood.com.au, download the free Donate Blood app or call 13 14 95.
