- 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.
National Blood Donor Week
Australia says Thanks a Million to its Blood Donors
National Blood Donor Week will be held Saturday 28 July - Friday 3 August in 2012.
National Blood Donor Week pays tribute to all donors across the nation who each year give more than 1.35 million life-saving blood, plasma and platelet donations across Australia.
Blood donors have been the heroes of many cancer patients, trauma victims, and renal dialysis patients.
In 2011 our donors gave blood, plasma and platelets 1,352,000 times, helping to save the lives of unborn babies, cancer patients, trauma victims, patients undergoing emergency surgery, and those on renal dialysis.
Australia says thank you to its 570,000 blood donors who help save millions of lives every year.
If you haven’t donated blood before, National Blood Donor Week is the perfect time to make an appointment
- Check your eligibility. Provided you are fit and healthy, and aged between 16 and 70 years, you may be eligible to give blood.
- Make an appointment. If you would like to become a blood donor and save three lives with every donation please make an appointment online or call us on 13 14 95