- 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.
Joining forces in a bloody battle
03/09/2010
MEDIA RELEASE: Joining forces in a bloody battle
Australian Defence Force personnel have begun a 13-week life saving battle to help boost
critically low blood stocks at the Australian Red Cross Blood Service.
Navy Diver Paul de Gelder knows the life-saving importance of blood donations, needing almost 300 units of blood after losing a leg and hand from a shark attack last year. Paul helped launch the Blood Service Defence Force Challenge, where the Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force and Defence Public Service will go head to head, competing to donate the most blood.
Paul said without people giving up their time to donate blood, he wouldn’t be here today.
“Blood was there for me when I needed it, one in three of us will need blood in our lifetime,
but currently only one in 30 Australians donate,” he said.
“It’s great the Defence Forces can get behind the Blood Service to ensure there’s enough
blood for patients in need, more people need to donate blood to help save lives.”
Blood Service NSW Manager Garry Wolfe said after a tough winter the Blood Service is still
battling with low blood stocks. “Many of our regular donors couldn’t donate due to colds and flu, so we were hit hard,” he said.
“The Blood Service needs almost 27,000 donations every week to keep up with demand. The
Defence Forces will help boost donor numbers but we really need the general public to roll
up their sleeves to get back to where we need to be.”
Now in its second year, the Blood Service Defence Force Challenge is an opportunity for
thousands of Defence staff across Australia to help save lives in a different way. Major General Paul Alexander, Commander Joint Health said all men and women in uniform are acutely aware of the fact that life in the Defence Force means needing a blood donation is a real prospect.
To kick off the Challenge Lieutenant Alistair Tomlinson (Navy), Lieutenant Jillian Gaze (Army), Major Joshua Bolton (Army) and Captain Nicholas Trotter (Army) all donated blood at Elizabeth Street Donor Centre.
“The Blood Service supplies almost 400 units of blood to the Australian Defence Force
annually, which is sent to locations including the Solomon Islands and East Timor,” Major
General Alexander said.
Last year, the Royal Australian Air Force took out the winner’s trophy, 91 donations ahead of
the Australian Army. The 2010 challenge also invites the family and friends of Defence Force
employees to get involved and make their donation count.
Corporate and community groups interested in supporting the Blood Service can also join
Club Red.
To make an appointment please call 13 14 95 or book online.
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For more information please contact:
Aletheia Hunn, Australian Red Cross Blood Service, 0404892533