Australian Red Cross Lifeblood is urging 8500 people, including those in Sunbury and Macedon Ranges, with O and A blood groups to donate in the next fortnight as the cold and flu season continues.
With around 2000 donors a week cancelling and rescheduling appointments due to cold and flu symptoms, Red Cross Lifeblood said it is expected to get worse in the coming weeks.
Lifeblood executive director of donor experience, Cath Stone said data shows that higher numbers of people are cancelling or rescheduling this year compared to last year.
“We are expecting those cancellations to increase over the coming weeks so are asking people with O and A blood types to book a donation,” she said.
“More than 80 per cent of the population has an O or A blood type, meaning these are the types most needed by patients.
“O Negative… is found in fewer than seven per cent of the population, making it one of the rarer blood types, however its versatility means it makes up 16 per cent of the blood ordered by hospitals.
“It is used to treat patients when their blood type is unknown [and is]… used to treat trauma patients who can require huge quantities of blood in a short amount of time.”
To combat the seasonal drop in donors, Lifeblood has partnered with emergency services across Australia to launch a blood drive to help secure blood stocks over the winter months.
“Emergency Service workers are used to coming to the rescue in times of need and emergencies, and at this time of year they will also help save lives by donating blood and plasma,” Ms Stone said.
Details: lifeblood.com.au
