Nearly 100 additional people are needed at the Shepparton Blood Donor Centre over the next two weeks to meet soaring demand for blood donations.
This comes as Australian Red Cross Lifeblood has issued an urgent appeal for 16,000 Australians to give blood or plasma in the next fortnight.
While all blood and plasma types are needed, O+ and A blood stocks are particularly low, plummeting to just two days’ supply.
As people come to grip with the pandemic, Lifeblood has seen fewer donors making appointments and 1200 donors cancelling or not turning up to donations every day.
But Shepparton Lifeblood group account manager Shae Burns urged people not to delay their life-saving donations.
“As restrictions continue to ease, blood and plasma donation may not be top of mind, but we’d like to remind everyone they are still absolutely vital,” she said.
“Got a new tatt? We’re OK with that. You can now donate plasma immediately after getting a new tattoo.”
Lifeblood executive director Cath Stone said 31,000 donations were needed every week across Australia to help patients in times of trauma, major surgery, cancer treatment, pregnancy and a host of other situations.
About 71 per cent of the Australian population has an O or A blood type, which means these are also the most commonly used for patients in need.
“We want to thank everyone who has continued to step up and donate during COVID-19,” Ms Stone said.
“However, the need for blood and blood products never stops so we urge those who can to make blood or plasma donation part of their ‘new normal’.
“Even if you don’t know what blood type you have, we still need you – we need all blood types every day.”
The Shepparton Blood Donor Centre entrance is via the Vaughan St Car Park, and is open Monday to Friday plus every second Saturday.
New and existing donors are welcome.
To book a blood or plasma donation visit lifeblood.com.au, call 13 14 95 or download the Donate Blood app.