ustralian Red Cross Blood Service nurse, Shaina Jessup, awaits blood donations at Blacktown RSL. Picture: Carlos Furtado
The Australian Red Cross mobile blood service will be at Blacktown RSL tomorrow — October 26 —to take blood donations.
A spokeswoman for the organisation said there was a particular need for A and O blood groups.
‘‘We’ve collected plenty of [both] the last two days which is fantastic,’’ she said.
‘‘We still have about half a dozen appointments free tomorrow.
‘‘We take 490 mililitres of blood in one donation — it will take only 5 to 10 minutes to give this amount of blood.’’
Donated blood and plasma is used to help people with cancer, blood diseases, surgical and orthopaedic patients, and people who experience trauma.
Most people can give blood if they are are fit, healthy and have not had a cold in the seven days before giving blood or on the day of donation.
Donors must be aged between 16 and 70 and weigh more than 45 kilograms.
They should also eat something and drink plenty of water in the three hours before donating.
At least one form of photo identification is needed.
Details: 13 14 95, or visit donateblood.com.au.
You can’t give blood if you are:
●under the influence of alcohol
●taking antibiotics
●pregnant or breast feeding
●have a cold or flu
●have been in prison in the past 12 months
●have injected a recreational drug
●have lived in the UK for six months or more between 1980 and 1996.