A Red Cross nursing assistant ‘on the hunt’ with first time blood donor Grace Yao.
Camera IconA Red Cross nursing assistant ‘on the hunt’ with first time blood donor Grace Yao. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Hunt for Red in October: Red Cross Blood Service puts out call for 310 new donors

Giovanni TorreEastern Reporter

PERTH and Morley blood banks need your blood.

The Red Cross has put the call out for 310 new donors, needed to boost stocks after a slump caused by the cold and flu season.

The Blood Service has launched the Hunt for Red in October campaign to highlight the need for new donors this month.

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Blood Service spokeswoman Jessica Willet said one in three people would need blood in their lifetime yet only one in 30 donated, making October’s hunt a serious matter.

“In October we still need an extra 650 people to donate blood in our Perth and Morley centres, and we’re hoping about half of those will be first-time donors,” she said.

“We’re appealing to donors who might not have been able to give in winter to come back and start giving blood again.”

Ms Willet said a donation that takes just one hour could save three lives.

“You’ll be saving the lives of cancer patients, road trauma victims, pregnant mothers, unborn babies and people undergoing emergency surgeries,” she said.

To learn more about blood donation and make an appointment visit donateblood.com.au or call 13 14 95.