Published on 14 June 2022
Today is World Blood Donor Day, an annual World Health Organization campaign that raises awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products and thanks donors for their life-saving gifts of blood.
The day comes as a timely reminder of the importance of giving blood, with Australian Red Cross Lifeblood reporting that almost half of its appointments are being cancelled or unattended due to many regular blood donors being impacted by COVID and flu this winter.
As a health service, we understand the importance of giving blood – with our patients relying on blood donations for surgery, cancer treatment, accidents, complicated births and more. One in three people will need blood or blood products in their lifetime and Australia needs more than 1.7 million donations every year to meet demand.
If you’re able to give blood, please consider making an appointment with Lifeblood in the coming weeks. It’s a big-hearted action that people can take to help strengthen their communities, support health systems and save lives.
Lifeblood is also seeking to build a community of donors that better represents the diversity of the broader Australian community. Australia’s current pool of donors has limited diversity and this is creating challenges in identifying blood matches for transfusion to patients with rarer blood types.
For my part it is good to hear that – as a relatively recently emigrated person to Australia – I like so many others will soon be able to donate blood in Australia, with the news that the Therapeutic Goods Administration is to lift its ‘mad cow’ blood donation ban for people who lived in the UK from 1980 to 1996 (a precautionary measure in response to the UK outbreak of mad cow disease and concerns about the risk of acquiring human variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease).
Want to find out more about donating?
Check your eligibility. Your donation changes lives. But not everyone can donate blood (including plasma), for a few reasons. You can check your eligibility to donate today here: www.lifeblood.com.au/blood/eligibility/start-quiz
TGA approval to change ‘mad cow’ blood donation rule. Australian Red Cross Lifeblood is pleased to have received a decision from the Therapeutic Goods Administration that will enable people who lived in the UK between 1980 and 1996 to donate in the very near future. If this applies to you, then you can register to become a blood donor, follow the instructions for ‘donors who spent time in the UK’ in the email Lifeblood will send you, and you’ll be notified the moment you can book a donation.
Frequently asked questions. It’s normal to have some questions about donating: www.lifeblood.com.au/faq
Find a donor centre near you: www.lifeblood.com.au/donor-centre