Maitland blood crisis

For the first time in two years the blood service will launch a social media call to arms with vital supplies bearing the brunt of the debilitating cold and flu season.

Nationally, the blood service is ­running low across all major blood groups but concerns lie with the stocks of O negative (less than two days’ ­supply) and O positive (less than three days’ supply).

“The blood service aims to store six days’ supply of each blood type to ensure a surplus in the event of a ­national emergency,” blood service spokesman Shaun Inguanzo said.

“O negative is the universal that can be given to anyone in an emergency, and O positive is the most common blood type in the country: more than 40 per cent of Australians would need O positive blood in the event of a transfusion.

“The problem is that up to 1000 donors a week are cancelling their donations due to cold and flu symptoms, and to make matters worse, we’ve had a recent spike in demand for blood.”

Mr Inguanzo said the organisation would activate its Blood Signal on social media – one of the quickest and most effective ways of reaching new donors.

“The Blood Signal means that we need donors now,” he said.

“We liken the Blood Signal to the Bat Signal: that is, we hope Australian donors will see it as a call-to-action to rise to the occasion.

“Even if you can’t donate, you can share the Blood Signal to encourage friends to give in your place thanks to the power of social media.

“Every donation you make or help encourage can help save three lives, including those of cancer patients, unborn babies, mothers giving birth, road trauma victims, burns victims, and people who need kidney dialysis.”

Donors are needed in Maitland today, tomorrow and Wednesday. Those with O negative and O positive blood types will receive the blood signal via social media. To donate blood visit donateblood.com.au or phone 131495.

OPINION: We need to make the time to donate