Hi guys, I'm hoping this will get an audience,

The pandemic has seen the number of donations dropping off, due to lockdowns and the fear or moving around/going out. Can I please remind you all that donating blood is an essential act of care-giving and is allowed during lockdowns.

Victorian, NSW and Brisbane donor centres all remained open during previous lockdowns and donor centres were places of wellness for donors to come in and donate. That is also the case for the current lockdown in NSW.

Donations

• You can give whole blood every 12 weeks. It takes an hour for the whole appointment (<10 mins for the donation) and can save up to 3 lives from the blood products they can make.

• You can give plasma every 2 weeks. It takes 1.5 hours for the whole appointment (~45 mins for the donation) and you don't suffer lack of volume, as they return the red blood cells.

• If you're a male and have previously donated plasma, you can donate platelets every 2 weeks. It takes 2 hours for the whole appointment (~60 mins for the donation).

Reasons:

• it's relatively painless - the worst part is the finger prick for haemoglobin count,

• you can do it on a weekend, in your spare time,

• it's a good excuse to have a massive savoury breakfast,

• you are literally helping to save lives,

• gets you out of the house during a lockdown,

• you get free food and drinks afterwards,