Every year as Maitland donors head off on Christmas holidays, the local Australian Red Cross Blood Service finds it difficult to supply enough blood products to cover the festive season.

December 24, 27, and 31 are ­notorious as days where blood ­supplies often drop to crisis point.

Importantly the donations must be made during the week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve because products vital to cancer treatment, such as platelets, only have a shelf life of five days.

To deal with the possible shortage the Maitland Blood Donor Centre has launched a Blood Blitz to help fill the 250 appointments still needed between the December 21 and January 3.

“Thousands of Australians will need blood this Christmas and new year just to have the hope of spending those moments with friends and ­family,” spokeswoman Jemma Falkenmire said.

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“Cancer patients are the biggest users of donated blood and rely on platelets to make it through chemotherapy.

“The problem is platelets cannot be stockpiled, so we need a constant, fresh supply as anything collected by Christmas Day will have expired or run out early next week.”

With one in three Australians ­needing blood or blood products in their lifetime, Miss Falkenmire said 

thousands more could also need blood during this critical period without yet realising it.

“If a friend or family member ­needed blood this festive season 

you’d expect blood to just be there,” she said. “It will only be there, if others have made the generous decision to donate at these critical times. 

“We need locals to respond to the Blood Blitz by rolling up their sleeves and making an appointment to give blood.”

To make an appointment this Christmas, call 131 495. 

The new blood donor centre is at 39 St Andrews Street, Maitland.

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