Even Santa makes the time to donate blood. Photo: Region.
Here’s a bloodcurdling fact for you – only about three per cent of eligible Australians donate blood.
More than half the country have no reason not to donate, yet only three per cent actually do.
Just over 560,000 active donors currently maintain the blood and plasma supply for our population of almost 27 million.
They’re pretty scary figures. Australia needs over 1.7 million donations every year to meet demand – that’s three blood donations needed every minute.
With demand for blood at a 12-year high and plasma demand at record levels, Lifeblood has launched a campaign to try to get 100,000 Australians to roll up their sleeves for the very first time.
To put that in perspective, that’s the number of people who attended the MCG for last weekend’s Aussie rules grand final.
I have to confess I’m one of those people who don’t donate blood. However, it’s not that I don’t want to – far from it – but more that I’m not allowed.
It goes back quite a few years, to when No 1 favourite son decided it was time to give rather than receive and made his first appointment to donate blood.
I was embarrassed. While my 18-year-old was prepared to do his bit to help his fellow man, his 40-something mother had never been brave enough to front up.
In my defence, I’d always been prone to fainting at the sight of blood, starting as a youngster when I was fascinated by a nurse lancing a boil on my finger. Until I woke up wondering why everyone was fussing over me.
But when No 1 son decided to make a booking at the Blood Bank (now known as Lifeblood), I realised it was time for me to (wo)man up and stop making excuses.
I don’t have a special blood type, but I know all blood is special when someone’s life depends on it.
We booked our double date, had a mother-son bonding experience and despite all my fears, everything went swimmingly. We left feeling quite smug and proud of ourselves.
So when it was time to donate again, we didn’t think twice, just booked our time and rocked up with no qualms.
Again, everything went swimmingly and we enjoyed our post-donation cuppa and sandwich.
But then I started to feel weird. I managed to ask my son to alert the staff but by the time they got to me I was out for the count. They were extremely solicitous, my son came to the fore, drove me home and put me to bed and I missed the rest of the workday.
To add insult to injury, I received a letter a few days later informing me that due to my performance I could no longer be a donor. But rest assured, that outcome rarely happens. According to Lifeblood, only about three per cent of donors faint.
As much as I don’t want to give a repeat performance, I do regret not being able to do my bit, especially when donations are desperately needed.
I figure what I can do is get the word out to all those people who are reluctant, scared or unsure, just like I was for so many years.
If you’re aged 18-75 years old, healthy and weigh over 50 kg chances are you can donate blood.
One blood donation can save up to three lives and it’s not just used to help people suffering trauma-related injuries.
Only two per cent of blood donations go to trauma patients, the rest is for everyday Aussies – more than one third of all whole blood donations are used in the treatment of cancer.
Australians living with chronic conditions such as kidney disease, thalassemia or haemophilia rely on blood transfusions.
And it’s not just straight blood that’s in huge demand, plasma donations are used in 18 life-giving ways.
People offer lots of reasons for not donating blood, but Lifeblood’s new campaign to get 100,000 new donors offers lots of reasons why people do it and why you should.
Reasons like: Because I can; It might be me one day; Mum has gastric cancer; Blood donations helped my dad; Being a good role model; To say thank you to Australians; The question should be why not.
But the bottom line is the ultimate answer – life is the reason.
If you still need convincing or want to find out more, visit Lifeblood.
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