AUSTRALIAN Red Cross Lifeblood urgently needs an additional 6,000 people to donate blood this week to replenish supplies depleted by ex-Cyclone Alfred.
An unprecedented number of donor centre closures and a surge in hospital orders preceding the Queensland emergency has drastically reduced the organisation’s blood stocks this week.
A major boost in donations is urgently needed now to ensure blood continues to be available for patients in need.
Almost 4,000 bags of blood are needed by hospitals every day across Australia to help patients in times of trauma, major surgery, cancer treatment, childbirth, and a range of other medical conditions.
Lifeblood has reopened most donor centres in Queensland with the Maroochydore Donor Centre located at L1, 144 Horton Pde, Maroochydore.
Acting Chief Executive Officer Stuart Chesneau said Lifeblood was particularly focused on replenishing stocks of platelets, which are made from blood donations and have a shelf-life of just five days after they’re tested.
“We pre-emptively sent extra supplies of blood products, including platelets, to hospitals in the impacted region ahead of Alfred landing, but many of those platelets are now close to expiring,” Stuart said.
“They are used to help people undergoing chemotherapy or to stop bleeding during surgery or after a major trauma.”
Lifeblood was forced to cancel 3,500 appointments with the closure of 22 donor centres in Queensland and northern New South Wales from Thursday to Sunday. A further 330 appointments had to be cancelled earlier this week.
“Between the shortfall in donations, combined with the pre-emptive drain on our blood stocks, it means we now urgently need to replenish blood supplies right across the country,” Stuart added.
“We’re asking anyone who may be eligible to donate to book an appointment now, and we also need new donors to step up. Our regular donors have seen us through the Christmas and New Year period, and many won’t be eligible to donate blood for a while.
New donors will be needed to see us through the coming weeks.
“If you’ve been waiting to find a reason to become a donor or have been thinking about coming back to donate, this is the time to act,” Stuart said.
To book a donation, call 13 14 95, visit lifeblood.com.au or download the Donate Blood App or visit the Maroochydore Donor Centre at L1, 144 Horton Pde, Maroochydore.