IPSWICH residents are being urged to help tackle Queensland’s latest blood shortage, with winter illnesses sidelining donors and leaving Lifeblood searching for an extra 3000 Queenslanders to roll up their sleeves.
The appeal comes just weeks after Lifeblood revealed Ipswich was already around 200 donors short during National Blood Donor Week, highlighting the city’s important role in maintaining Queensland’s blood supply.
With cold and flu season continuing to sweep through the community, Australian Red Cross Lifeblood says stocks of O-positive, O-negative and A-positive blood remain under pressure.
Around 8000 units of blood, plasma and platelets are issued nationally each month as urgent or life-threatening orders, with some needing to be dispatched within just 30 minutes to hospitals treating trauma patients, cancer patients, new mothers and people undergoing major surgery.
Lifeblood spokesperson Belinda Smetioukh said winter illnesses were keeping many regular donors away at the worst possible time.
“Nationally we’re seeing up to 1600 donation appointments sit empty every day, with many more people cancelling or rescheduling appointments,” she said.
A recent Lifeblood survey found almost 40 per cent of Australians have recently experienced cold, flu or respiratory illness symptoms, meaning many are temporarily unable to donate.
Blood donors must be symptom-free for at least seven days before giving.
“Even mild symptoms such as sniffles, sore throats and headaches make people temporarily ineligible to give blood, and this can severely impact the availability of donors during winter months,” Ms Smetioukh said.
“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.”
Only three per cent of Australians currently donate.
More than 80 per cent of Australians have either an O or A blood type, making the current shortages especially significant.
To book a donation, visit the Ipswich Lifeblood Donor Centre at Riverlink, call 13 14 95, visit Lifeblood’s website or download the Lifeblood app.
