Call for blood as stocks plummet

Albany’s blood stocks are running low in the lead-up to Christmas, as the service struggles to find the number of donations needed for December.

Australian Red Cross Blood Service spokeswoman Jessica Willet said Albany was one of the most poorly-booked blood donor centres in the State.

She said half the appointment slots were empty for the first fortnight of December and even less were booked between Christmas and New Year, compared to Bunbury Blood Centre which had a 20 per cent shortfall and other centres which were fully booked.

“Blood is needed every day by road trauma patients, pregnant mums, cancer patients and premature babies,” she said.

“That need never stops and with so many people likely to be away on holidays, we need others to step forward.”

Sumanth Surendran has been boosting Albany’s blood stocks since 2011 and gave his 18th donation of plasma on Tuesday.

He said one in three people would need a blood transfusion at some point in their lives, but only one in 30 people were blood donors.

“There will probably be a day when you need it,” he said.

“Just come in and give it … you have a lot to give.

“It is painless and for a good cause.”

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