Australia’s blood donation centres have been overwhelmed with donors in the wake of the horrific Bondi attack, in which 16 people were killed and 40 more were injured.
With Lifeblood Australia continuing to urge Aussies to donate blood to help victims of the attack — particularly those with O negative blood — here’s how to find out what blood type you are if you’ve never donated.
Following the tragic Bondi attacks, NSW Premier Chris Minns and Lifeblood Australia have urged the public — specifically Sydneysiders — to donate their blood to help those who’ve been directly affected by the incident.
“If you want to help, if you want to do something practical to help, please give blood,” Minns said.
Since the call was made, donation centres across the country have seen queues of Aussies ready to help those in need.
Lifeblood Australia has continued to call for more donations, with Lifeblood’s Executive Director of Donor Experience Cath Stone telling PEDESTRIAN.TV that “up to 100 blood donations may be needed to save just one life”.
“We’ve seen an overwhelming response from the community, and we’d like to thank everyone who has visited our centres or made an appointment to donate today, and in the days ahead,” Stone said.
“When tragic events occur, donating blood is one way to help people.”
Here’s how you can help the victims of the Bondi attacks, including how you can find your blood type and how you can donate.
How do you find out your blood type in Australia?
There are four different blood types in Australia, including A, B, AB, and O. Per Health Direct, the type of blood you have indicates whether your red blood cells carry chemical structures called antigens.
The most common blood type in Australia is O positive, with 38 per cent of Australians having this blood type. The least common is AB negative, with only one per cent of Aussies recorded to have this type.
When it comes to blood donations, Health Direct says O negative blood can be safely given to anyone, regardless of the patient’s blood type.
To find out what your blood type is, you can log into My Health Record via myGov or book an appointment via the Australian Red Cross Blood Service.
You can also visit your local GP to ask if they have your blood type on record; if not, they can conduct a test.
Alternatively, donors can learn about their blood type after they’ve donated.
According to Lifeblood Australia, around half of the population doesn’t know their blood type.
Why is it important to know your blood type?
Knowing your blood type is important to having a healthy pregnancy, but it’s also important to know which blood group you belong to so recipients don’t face a transfusion reaction.
How do you donate blood in Australia?
Before donating blood, donors must check their eligibility, because there are restrictions surrounding health, recent vacation or travels, and/or recent sexual activity.
After checking eligibility, donors will need to make an appointment at their closest donation centre, which you can find here.
You can also make an appointment by calling 13 14 95 or booking here.
Stone adds that blood donation will “continue to be needed between now and January 2”.
“With the festive season approaching, we’re encouraging people to look at making an appointment over the coming weeks, as blood donations will continue to be needed between now and January 2,” Stone told P.TV.
“If you’re aged between 18-75, healthy and well, there’s a good chance you’ll be eligible to donate.”
Lifeblood Australia’s website is currently experiencing issues due to high traffic, and the call centre is also overwhelmed by a high volume of calls following the Bondi attacks. It’s currently working on a temporary fix with an update coming soon.
The post How To Find Out Your Blood Type If You’ve Never Donated Before appeared first on PEDESTRIAN.TV .
