Scary stat reveals dire need for blood donors

Victorians are being urged to roll up their sleeves and donate blood as essential stocks drop to their lowest point in a year.

Australian Red Cross Lifeblood is calling for more donors in the next two weeks. Picture: supplied

An urgent call for blood donors has been issued, after stocks for the most commonly used blood type dropped to their lowest point in a year.

The Red Cross needs an extra 1890 Victorians with type O blood to donate in the next fortnight to boost supplies in the face of growing demand.

Nationwide, the organisation needs 500 extra donations every day for the next two weeks, totalling 7000 extra donations.

Red Cross Lifeblood executive Stuart Chesneau said demand for these “essential” blood types had risen by more than three per cent, the biggest increase in ten years.

The Red Cross needs 500 extra donations every day for the next two weeks.

“O Negative is the universal blood type and is used to treat patients when their blood type is unknown,” he said.

“It’s often stocked in ambulances and rescue helicopters to be used to treat trauma patients who can require huge quantities of blood in a short amount of time.

“O Positive, meanwhile, is the most common blood type in the community, with 40 per cent of people having this blood type, meaning it’s the type most needed by patients should they require a blood transfusion.”

Less than seven per cent of the population has type O negative blood.

He said they expect demand will continue to rise in the coming years and urged anyone eligible to book an appointment for the next two weeks.

“To ensure we continue to meet the needs of patients across the country, we need everyone who is eligible – more than 13 million people – to become blood and plasma donors,” he said.

“We also need our existing donors to donate more often. If they could give just one more donation each year it would make a huge difference, especially to lives of those who receive it.”

To donate visit lifeblood.com.au or call 13 14 95.