Blood donations are wanted

The Australian Red Cross Blood Service has issued an urgent call for healthy people in Woy Woy to donate blood.

The mobile blood bank van will be available at Deepwater Plaza on Thursday, June 30.

More than a dozen Woy Woy residents have already shown their support of Operation Lifeblood, a national initiative aimed at securing 40,000 more people to give blood over a 12-week period this winter.

In order to reach the target set for Woy Woy of 84 for Operation Lifeblood, more people are needed to give blood by July 31.

According to blood service chief executive Dr Robert Hetzel blood stocks are critically low, and now is the time to donate.

"While the response to the campaign to date has been fantastic, more donations are needed to reach our targets," Dr Hetzel said.

"While one in three Australians will need blood at some point in their lifetime, right now only one in 30 people actually donate.

"Every donation can help save up to three lives, but unfortunately a safe supply can only be reached by regular donations, and new people coming forward," Dr Hetzel said.

"The demand for blood in 2005 is 100,000 units (or donations) higher than it was in 1995," said Dr Robert Hetzel.

"That means 2000 people are needed every week to give blood across Australia just to meet demand."

Woy Woy residents wishing to become part of Operation Lifeblood and register to give blood can contact 1300 655 233 or log on to donateblood.com.au

Marketing coordinator for Hunter and Central Coast Donor Mobile, Ms Catherine Hurst, said that the Red Cross was about half way through its three month national campaign to recruit 40,000 new blood donors.

Local promotions in shopping centres have seen the Central Coast achieve above target for the campaign to date, according to Ms Hurst.

Press release, June 8, 17 Fiona McGill, Catherine Hurst, Australian Red Cross