Blood supplies are now under critical pressure around the world, prompting an unprecedented international call for donors.
Australia has joined two other nations tonight, warning they may need to prioritise patients to keep up with demand.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Global blood crisis prompts urgent donor call
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Krishan Lal, 42, knows how important donating blood is. In 2017, he was critically injured in a motorbike crash.
“Just as I took the bend and I was taking the turn, there was a truck heading down the other way,” he said.
Donated blood saved his life. Now he’s giving it back.
“If I can donate and just help one person, then that’s worth it,” Lal said.
But supplies have fallen to critically low levels across the globe. Services in Australia, Canada and England are now joining forces pleading for donors.
“It actually is a global problem. For us, it’s summer, people go on vacation, routines change,” said Ryan Adams from Canadian Blood Services.
For Australia, the winter flu season is keeping donors away and the ageing population is driving up demand.
“Really challenging situation at the moment. Lots of gaps in our appointment books,” said John Bain from Lifeblood.
“We need as many as 5700 more O-group bookings in the next seven days.”
O-negative is the most crucial as it can be given to anyone.
Earlier this month, the American Red Cross declared its second ever national blood supply crisis. Stocks were so low, they had to ration supplies to hospitals, forcing some patients to wait for blood they desperately need.
“We try to avoid the situation where we would have to prioritise patients. But when the blood stocks are low, that may be what we have to look at,” Bain said.
Supplies have fallen by 30 per cent in recent months. Regular donors alone aren’t enough to sustain supplies through winter.
The most dire shortages right now are O-positive and O-negative. Around 5700 donations are needed in the next week.
Australians can visit Lifeblood to book their donation.
