Red Cross is issuing a "final call", pleading with Canberrans to donate blood in the next five days.
The ACT needs 70 donors a day for each of the next five days to ensure everyone who needs blood will get it, Australian Red Cross Lifeblood said.
Donors needed per day until January 2:
- ACT: 70 a day
- SA: 80 a day
- NSW: 550 a day
- TAS: 60 a day
- VIC: 600 a day
- QLD: 250 a day
- DARWIN, NT: 10 a day
Nationwide, they need 1600 blood donors per day.
Australians have already rallied around to donate during the Christmas "blood blitz", but more was needed, Lifeblood Executive Director of Donor Services Cath Stone said.
Opening hours
Garran Donor Centre
- Wednesday 28 Dec: 7 am-7:30 pm
- Thursday 29 Dec: 7 am-7:30 pm
- Friday 30 Dec: 7 am-5:30 pm
- Saturday 31 Dec: 7 am-5:30 pm
- Sunday 1 January: 10 am-2 pm
- Monday 2 Jan PH hours: 8am - 3:30pm
Civic Donor Centre
- Wednesday 28 Dec: 7 am-7 pm
- Thursday 29 Dec: 7 am-7 pm
- Friday 30 Dec: 7 am-5 pm
- Saturday 31 Dec: 7 am-5 pm
- Closed 1 January
- Monday 2 Jan PH hours: 8 am-3.30 pm
"As we head into another long weekend, we historically see a drop in the number of people donating," she said.
"These 8000 blood donors have the potential to help nearly 24,000 Australian patients relying on blood products during this time.
"Donating blood takes about an hour but it's a gift that will make a real difference to a patient's life."
Every 18 seconds over the coming days, someone in Australia will need blood, Ms Stone said.
This may be for serious accidents, surgery, complicated births, or cancer treatment.
The Garran donation centre will be open on New Year's Day from 10am to 5.30pm.
- To book a donation and check which donor centres are open over the holiday season, call 13 14 95, visit lifeblood.com.au, or download the free Donate Blood app
