THE Australian Red Cross Lifeblood is calling for donors to roll up their sleeves to help supply blood to Australians in need, with the blood donation mobile unit returning to Hamilton in less than two weeks.

During the Lifeblood Mobile Donor Centre’s last visit to Hamilton in December, almost 250 people donated, with 21 people becoming first-time blood donors.

Currently, more than 10,000 blood donations are needed every week to support people living with cancer in Australia and with diagnoses predicted to increase by 72 per cent by 2040, cancer patients will need even more donors to support them over the next decade.

Lifeblood’s Executive Director of Donor Experience, Cath Stone, said that 34 per cent of blood products are used by cancer patients.

“There is a common misconception that most blood is used in trauma and emergency situations, but a third of blood and blood products are used by cancer patients, making them Australia’s largest users of donated blood,” she said.

Ms Stone also said that around 33,000 blood donations are needed every week to help a range of seriously ill Australians, including cancer patients, pregnant women, road trauma victims, premature babies, and people with blood disorders that need blood every single day.

“We are urging people to make an appointment to donate blood or plasma to save lives,” she said.

Eligibility for donating includes being healthy, being aged between 18 and 75, weighing at least 50 kilograms, and having a normal temperature and blood pressure, as well as meeting additional guidelines, to protect both the donor and the people who will receive the blood.

Donors are reminded that as of 2022, the ‘mad cow’ ban has been lifted, as well last year’s change in wait time between getting a tattoo and donating blood from four months to now only seven days, increasing the number of eligible Australians that can donate.

The Lifeblood Mobile Donor Centre will be at Melville Oval, Hamilton from Monday, March 11 to Friday, March 22.

To book a donation or find out more information about blood donation eligibility, visit the lifeblood website at lifeblood.com.au or download the Donate Blood app.