- Australia has one of the safest blood supply systems in the world.
- You can donate whole blood every 12 weeks.
- O negative blood is universal and can be given to anyone.
- Plasma and platelet donations can be made every 2 weeks.
- Every whole blood donation can save 3 lives.
- 1 in 3 people will need blood. Only 1 in 30 gives blood.
- Australia needs over 27,000 blood donations every week.
- 470mL of blood is collected when you give whole blood.
- Within 24-48 hours of giving blood, your blood volume is completely restored.
- Giving blood only takes about an hour.
- Plasma donations can be used to make 17 different products.
- Red blood cells have a shelf life of 42 days.
- 34% of donated blood goes towards helping cancer patients.
- You can start giving blood at 16.
- The blood service has been collecting blood for over 80 years.
- Many donor centres have a courtesy bus.
- You can donate double platelets – helping twice as many people.
- Platelets have a shelf life of only 5 days.
Frequent Donor Loyalty Program 2011
Thank you to all Frequent Donor Loyalty Program members
As a donor, you know how good it feels to give blood and save lives. You would also know that thousands of Australians rely upon regular donors to live healthy lives.
On behalf of those you have saved, the Australian Red Cross Blood Service would like to thank all donors who gave blood during 2011.
In particular, we would like to extend a special thank you to those who joined the Frequent Donor Loyalty Program and completed their pledge.
You’ve made a huge difference this year by giving so generously and helped many people with cancer, heart disease and other serious conditions.
Although registrations for the 2011 Program have now closed, we’d love every donor to continue saving lives in the future. The more donations you make, the more lives you save. What could be more rewarding than that?
Thank you again for saving so many lives and supporting the Frequent Donor Loyalty Program.