‘Can’t do it’: Type-O blood reserves hit dire lows, calls for urgent donations

A lifesaving component of emergency medical treatment is running low across the country, with urgent calls for donors to step up.

Reserves of O-type blood are running critically low in Australia.

The Red Cross has issued an urgent call for an extra 9500 donations within the next week.

“Every day, we issue close to 10,000 blood transfusions and medications to hospitals around the country to meet patient demand and we can’t do it without people donating,” Red Cross Lifeblood executive director Stuart Chesneau said.

About half of Australians have O-type blood, and reserves of the blood type are running low. Picture: Lifeblood

“Right now, we’re seeing the highest rates of people rescheduling or cancelling their appointments since June last year, and our O-type blood supplies are at their lowest level since October 2023.”

O-negative is the universal blood type that paramedics and rescue helicopters carry. About 7 per cent of Australians have O-negative blood, but about 16 per cent of blood used by hospitals is O-negative.

“What many people don’t know is that O-positive is as safe as O-negative for the majority of emergency transfusions. Some 40 per cent of people in Australia have O-positive blood, meaning they too can help save lives in emergency situations,” Mr Chesneau said.

“We’re asking people of all blood types who are feeling healthy and well, especially those with O-type blood, to make an appointment.”

Previous Lifeblood research estimates 57 per cent of Australians are eligible to give blood, but only 3 per cent donate regularly.

Originally published as ‘Can’t do it’: Type-O blood reserves hit dire lows, calls for urgent donations