Urgent call for Queensland blood
Queensland health professionals are struggling with a shortage of blood as winter illnesses see donors cancel their appointments.
Australian Red Cross Lifeblood is calling for 3000 Queenslanders to donate blood immediately with levels of type A, O-positive and O-negative blood falling to critical levels.
These blood types are particularly important because they are often used in emergencies when a patient’s blood type is unknown.
Brisbane currently needs 1,000 blood and plasma donors, followed by a further 350 in the Gold Coast and 250 plasma donors in Townsville.
Peak winter illnesses were seeing more donors cancel appointments, a new Lifeblood survey has found almost 40 percent of Australians have recently experienced cold, flu or respiratory illness symptoms.
Every month around 8000 units of blood, plasma and platelets are needed for urgent or life-threatening orders, sometimes needing to be dispatched within as little as 30 minutes for patients in critical condition.
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Lifeblood spokesperson Belinda Smetioukh said winter illnesses can wipe out thousands of people from being able to donate blood, as donors need to be seven days clear of symptoms before their appointment.
“Nationally we’re seeing up to 1,600 donation appointments sit empty every day, with many more people cancelling or rescheduling appointments,” Smetioukh said.
Even mild symptoms including sniffles, sore throats and headaches cause temporary illegibility for donating blood, severely impacting blood levels during the winter season.
“We’re urging anyone who is fit and well to book an appointment now, and anyone recovering from illness to donate as soon as they can,” Smetioukh adds.
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She explains that patients in critical condition will always get the necessary blood, but full fridges were essential to ensuring blood was available for everyone.
“This includes cancer patients, new mothers, people undergoing surgery, and many other patients, including children who need donated blood to save their lives.”
Krishan Lal, a 42-year-old design engineer, was a regular blood donor before being involved in a freak motorbike accident on a remote NSW road where he was flung off his bike and crashed into the windscreen of a truck.
“I lost almost 1.7 litres of blood, my pulse was almost gone, I was already white and cold… I only had five minutes left of life,” Lal told AAP.
He added that he never thought he would be a recipient of a blood donation, but it ended up saving his life. Only three percent of Australian donate regularly and Lal urged others to contribute.
“Every donation you do saves three lives… and I can’t thank whomever it was that that did it for me,” he said.
Smetioukh urged those who do not know their blood types to donate, with more than 80 percent of Australians having an O or A blood type.
Lifeblood said it needs more than 12,000 blood type A and O donors across the country in the coming fortnight – donors can books appointments on 131495 or at lifeblood.com.au.
– with AAP
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