Roll up your sleeves and donate blood to the Australian Red Cross
For Healthy Minds Month, we’re focussed on five ways to wellbeing – Give, Connect, Take Notice, Keep Learning and Be Active.
This week is all about giving – and there’s nothing better than giving blood for someone in need.
Blood and plasma donation is an essential service and remains absolutely vital – that means even with restrictions in place you can still donate to the Australian Red Cross.
Did you know 1 in 3 people will need blood, yet only 1 in 30 donate?
Blood donations are critical to Australia’s healthcare system. Around one-third of those go towards helping people with cancer, with the rest needed to treat immune conditions, pregnancy and childbirth complications, surgery, haemophilia, heart disease and more.
So, why not mix up your lockdown, take a break from baking banana bread and donate?
As part of Healthy Minds Month, we are inviting everyone to give blood through the Australian Red Cross.
Every donation is valued, as 1 donation can save 3 lives.
If you’re keen to get involved, here’s what you can do:
1. Check your eligibility by taking an eligibility quiz.
In general, you should be able to give blood if you:
- are aged between 18-75 years old
- weigh more than 50kg
- are in good health and not suffering from a cold, flu or other illness
- have not been in the UK for a total of six months or more between 1980 and 1996
2. Make an online booking to donate – Simply register an account and select a date and time to make your donation. Donor centres are located throughout Australia and most are open 7 days a week.
3. Prepare to donate - don’t forget to:
- drink 8 – 10 glasses of water the day before you donate
- drink 3 glasses of water, 3 hours before donating
- bring at least one form of photo ID
What are you waiting for? Go donate!