Australians are being urged to roll up their sleeves and give blood, with demand set to spike over the Easter long weekend.
While we’re usually used to giving chocolates at this time of the year, Red Cross Lifeblood is pleading for us to gift something that could save a life.
According to Lifeblood, the need for blood is 3 percent higher than the same time last year, while demand for platelets, the clotting agent in blood, is at a record high.
Lifeblood Executive Director Stuart Chesneau said 1000 donors are needed across Australia every day between now and Easter Monday to ensure hospitals receive the blood they need.
In Queensland, an additional 1300 donors are needed, while in NSW that number is even higher at 2500.
“Blood and blood products will be required every 18 seconds this Easter long weekend and throughout the school holidays by trauma and emergency patients, mums delivering babies, people with blood conditions and cancer patients.
“And every person who comes in and makes a donation can save up to three lives,” Stuart said.
Mr Chesneau said Easter is a traditionally challenging time for donations because most regular donors take a break to spend time with family or go away for the four-day weekend.
“Blood is complex and cannot be synthetically produced, so we rely on the generosity of donors to ensure patients have access to the blood they need when they need it, including over holiday periods,” he said.
Lifeblood has a record 49 Lifeblood donor centres open throughout Australia on Good Friday and most centres are open on Easter Monday.
