A REGULAR blood donor is calling on more people to “push through fear” and donate blood at the Morley Blood Donor Centre.
The centre needs an extra 120 people to donate blood this Easter, to boost blood supplies for cancer and trauma patients.
Platelets, a vital clotting agent in blood, are needed to treat patients undergoing chemotherapy and to combat life-threatening bleeding from road trauma and other emergency situations.
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READ NOWBurswood resident Russell Geisner, formerly of Bassendean, said he donated plasma blood every two weeks.
“I feel like everyone wants to give back to the community in some way, shape or form,” he said.
“Some people volunteer their time, others volunteer finances, whereas I think this is very much an important and exclusive form of donation.
“I used to live in Bassendean, so I’d come here (Morley) but they have since made the Midland one but I still come here just because the staff are very pleasant.”
The 23-year-old urged people to push through their fear because the first step was the hardest.
“I highly recommend everyone to donate because everyone has a slight fear of needles – it is just engrained since childhood with immunisation,” he said.
Blood Service spokeswoman Jessica Willet said one blood product only lasted for five days so the centre needed a constant supply.
“Around Easter many regular blood donors are away, which means blood supplies can dip if we don’t have enough good eggs to fill the gap,” she said.
“Your lifesaving donation could help someone spend another Easter holiday with family and friends, and all it costs is an hour of time.”
Ms Willet said one in three people would need blood in their lifetime, yet currently only one in 30 donated.
Call 13 14 95 or visit donateblood.com.au and make an appointment to donate.
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