Heidi Kraak
The Traralgon Australian Red Cross Blood Service is calling on the community to fill 70 free appointments over the Easter and Anzac Day public holidays following a low number of blood donations.
The centre needs to bolster blood supplies for cancer and road trauma patients over the holiday period and has launched a campaign calling for community members to be “good eggs” and donate blood, plasma or both.
Australian Red Cross Blood Service community relations officer Wendy Todd said many of the Traralgon centre’s regular donors were taking a “well-deserved break” over the Easter period.
“We have a shortage and basically need 70 appointments filled between Monday and Friday after the Easter weekend, which includes Easter Monday,” she said.
“One of the challenges that we have is that when blood is collected and separated, one of the components called platelets only last for five days, so it is really important that recipients after Easter still get the blood and blood products that they need.”
Ms Todd said Traralgon was a “very well-supported” centre, however, there were times when regular donors needed to take a break.
Blood donations are taken to a processing centre in Melbourne and distributed around Victoria as needed.
“At the end of the day, we are always thinking of the recipient, so anybody that could help out, that would be terrific,” she said.
To make an appointment to donate phone 13 14 95, visit donateblood.com.au or download the Donate Blood app from your app store.
