Make a positive change and donate blood this week

Did you also know just one donation can save three lives, and blood can be used to create 22 different medical treatments?

Be a part of the movement and donate blood, plasma or platelets during National Blood Donor Week starting Monday, which is also on World Blood Donor Day.

Donations drastically declined last year as a consequence of the pandemic, and cancellations skyrocketed last year which means we need to pick up the momentum.

According to Australian Red Cross' Life Blood, only three per cent of Australians donate blood per year, despite one in three Australians needing blood or blood products throughout their life.

Blood plasma can be used for cancer, anemia, heart disease, stomach disease, blood disease, kidney disease, blood loss, trauma burns, operations and childbirth.

The site also revealed that from 2018 to 2019, over 523,000 Australians voluntarily donated blood, plasma and platelets, and 100,000 new donors donated in the period.

Over 978,000 blood products were provided to healthcare providers and hospitals in that period.

Life Blood said that there was a drastic increase of people rolling up their sleeves to donate during, and after the devastating bushfires.

Under 1.5 million blood donations were made by Australian donors from 2019 to 2020.

There are 96 blood donation and mobile centres in Australia.

In the Tablelands, there are centres located in Goulburn, Yass and Queanbeyan.

People can call 13 14 95 to schedule an appointment or go to donateblood.com.au for further information.

For those reading who have donated blood, thank you very much for your help.

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