An extra 100 Wollongong residents are needed to give blood between Christmas Eve and January 2 in a bid to prevent a shortage of blood stocks vital to the treatment of cancer patients.
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Last year Wollongong needed 150 bags of blood and blood products – donated by 350 donors – leading into and immediately after Christmas.
The Red Cross Blood Service is preparing for a similar demand this year.
The service is running a “Secret Santa” campaign to encourage donations – with all donors receiving a gift tag to hang on the tree, as well as a text message when their anonymous gift is on it’s way to a hospital.
Spokeswoman Jemma Falkenmire said the festive season was a critical time for the blood supply, with many regular donors taking a break.
“Thousands of Australian patients will need blood this Christmas and New Year’s in order to spend precious moments with friends and family,” she said.
“We cannot stockpile blood ahead of the holidays as blood has a shelf life; so we need more people to make appointments to give blood from December 24 to January 2.”
Miss Falkenmire said at most risk were supplies of platelets, the clotting component of the blood that is largely relied on by cancer and trauma patients to prevent internal bleeding.
“Every day this month blood will be needed by trauma and accident victims, cancer patients, new mums, and many other patients who rely on blood for survival,” she said.
To donate visit donateblood.com.au or call 13 14 95.