One in three Australians will need blood, yet only one in 30 donates. This year 495,000 blood donors across the country donated whole blood, plasma or platelets. Every donation saves up to three lives and can be used to help people with cancer and blood diseases, trauma patients, pregnant women and new mothers.
All Australia’s donors are unpaid volunteers, so it’s vital we keep them engaged. Every year we encourage our donors in many ways, including thanking them personally for each donation; sharing stories of patients whose lives have been changed by blood products; building donor communities on social media; and celebrating donors during National Blood Donor Week.
“I donate blood because it provides me with the opportunity to give to the community and gives me a great personal sense of satisfaction.”
Wayne Smith, Bendigo retiree and 250-time blood donor.
Australian Red Cross Blood Service
