Australians with the rarest and most valuable blood type should hop into their local donation centre this Easter.

Australian Red Cross Lifeblood urgently needs people with 0- blood to donate over the next fortnight, as consecutive long weekends threaten supplies.

Lifeblood’s reserves of the emergency blood type, needed by accident and trauma patients, have dropped to their lowest point in 12 months.

For the first time, more than 40 donation centres will open across Australia on Good Friday to give Lifeblood a much needed boost to supplies.

O- makes up 15 per cent of hospital orders across Australia, but fewer than 7 per cent of the population have that blood type.

“This rare blood type is in high demand because it can be given in emergency situations where a patient’s blood group is unknown,” Cath Stone, Lifeblood’s Executive Director of Donor Services, said on Tuesday.

“It’s often stocked in ambulances and rescue helicopters to be used for trauma patients who can require huge quantities in a short amount of time.

“Blood will be needed by thousands of people this Easter weekend, including trauma and emergency patients, mums delivering babies, and people undergoing cancer treatment.”

To book a donation, visit lifeblood.com.au, download the free Donate Blood app or call 13 14 95.

 

Melissa Meehan
(Australian Associated Press)