1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,320 Speaker 1: Well, a real change of pace right now. Because we 2 00:00:03,360 --> 00:00:06,520 Speaker 1: know the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood it is appealing to 3 00:00:06,680 --> 00:00:10,119 Speaker 1: anyone with O type blood to book a donation as 4 00:00:10,160 --> 00:00:14,360 Speaker 1: the organization's levels of both O positive and OH negative 5 00:00:14,520 --> 00:00:18,400 Speaker 1: drop to their lowest point since twenty twenty three. Now 6 00:00:18,440 --> 00:00:22,680 Speaker 1: an extra nine five hundred donations of OH positive and 7 00:00:22,920 --> 00:00:27,200 Speaker 1: OH negative blood donors are needed in the next few 8 00:00:27,280 --> 00:00:29,920 Speaker 1: days to ensure that Lifeblood can continue to meet the 9 00:00:29,960 --> 00:00:32,879 Speaker 1: needs of patients across the country. Now joining me on 10 00:00:32,920 --> 00:00:36,440 Speaker 1: the line is Red Cross Lifeblood pr A media manager 11 00:00:36,680 --> 00:00:37,479 Speaker 1: Hannah Raymond. 12 00:00:37,720 --> 00:00:40,520 Speaker 2: Hi Hannah, Hi Katie, how are you going? 13 00:00:40,680 --> 00:00:44,640 Speaker 1: They're really good, great to have you on the show, Hannah. 14 00:00:44,720 --> 00:00:48,360 Speaker 1: Why are we in need of additional donations. 15 00:00:49,320 --> 00:00:52,240 Speaker 2: That's a great question, Katie. We often see donations for 16 00:00:52,560 --> 00:00:54,520 Speaker 2: you know, around the winter months and people are feeling 17 00:00:54,560 --> 00:00:56,440 Speaker 2: a little bit, getting a little bit of a cold, 18 00:00:56,520 --> 00:00:59,560 Speaker 2: feeling a bit sick, which is totally understandable. We've also 19 00:00:59,600 --> 00:01:03,400 Speaker 2: had really high rates of people rescheduling and canceling their appointments, 20 00:01:04,280 --> 00:01:07,400 Speaker 2: so we've just had to call out for more donors 21 00:01:07,400 --> 00:01:09,280 Speaker 2: at the moment to make sure we can keep our 22 00:01:09,520 --> 00:01:10,440 Speaker 2: supplies up there. 23 00:01:10,840 --> 00:01:14,399 Speaker 1: So nine and a half thousand. Is that correct over 24 00:01:14,440 --> 00:01:16,960 Speaker 1: the next seven days or has that changed a little 25 00:01:16,959 --> 00:01:18,840 Speaker 1: in the last forty eight hours. 26 00:01:19,600 --> 00:01:22,800 Speaker 2: We're still looking for nine five hundred donations across the country. 27 00:01:22,880 --> 00:01:25,880 Speaker 2: So we've definitely had such a great response from people 28 00:01:25,880 --> 00:01:28,960 Speaker 2: who've been booking appointments, which is awesome to see that 29 00:01:29,040 --> 00:01:31,160 Speaker 2: nine thy five hundred was going to get us back 30 00:01:31,160 --> 00:01:33,199 Speaker 2: into the level. So that was a nice little estimate 31 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:35,680 Speaker 2: for us to have and I think that was about 32 00:01:35,680 --> 00:01:38,640 Speaker 2: fifty people in the Northern Territory. So thanks to anyone 33 00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:41,320 Speaker 2: who's booked already. I'm sure there's spots that still can 34 00:01:41,360 --> 00:01:43,280 Speaker 2: be filed and we'd love to have you in our center. 35 00:01:43,840 --> 00:01:47,880 Speaker 1: And for the Northern Territory, what exactly, what exactly do 36 00:01:47,960 --> 00:01:49,200 Speaker 1: we need here in the Inta. 37 00:01:50,640 --> 00:01:52,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, so we're looking for fifty people to book an 38 00:01:52,960 --> 00:01:56,200 Speaker 2: appointment in the next seven days. That's you know, a 39 00:01:56,240 --> 00:01:59,200 Speaker 2: great sample size, I guess for the Northern Territory. And 40 00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:03,000 Speaker 2: they've got a enter I think in Darwin, So if 41 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:05,480 Speaker 2: we can get people in the chairs there, you'll be 42 00:02:05,520 --> 00:02:07,960 Speaker 2: helping to boost the nation's blood supplies. 43 00:02:08,120 --> 00:02:11,520 Speaker 1: Hannah, it doesn't sound like much fifty people, I reckon 44 00:02:11,560 --> 00:02:13,720 Speaker 1: we can do that I think that I've got a 45 00:02:13,760 --> 00:02:17,280 Speaker 1: lot of wonderful listeners, some of them already messaging through 46 00:02:17,320 --> 00:02:21,520 Speaker 1: this morning saying that they donate. So I reckon we 47 00:02:21,560 --> 00:02:24,000 Speaker 1: can do it. I think that we absolutely. I've got 48 00:02:24,040 --> 00:02:26,040 Speaker 1: great confidence that we're able to get there. 49 00:02:26,960 --> 00:02:28,600 Speaker 2: I hope so too, and I'm sure you sure you 50 00:02:28,680 --> 00:02:31,120 Speaker 2: do it. We've got lots of generous Jonas across the country, 51 00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:33,480 Speaker 2: so maybe we can get you know, nom Chchu to 52 00:02:33,480 --> 00:02:35,000 Speaker 2: pull more than their their fair shat. 53 00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:35,640 Speaker 1: I hope. 54 00:02:35,720 --> 00:02:35,840 Speaker 2: So. 55 00:02:36,320 --> 00:02:39,440 Speaker 1: I love a good challenge, so I hope. So, now 56 00:02:39,600 --> 00:02:42,359 Speaker 1: tell me why is it only for O type blood? 57 00:02:43,680 --> 00:02:46,520 Speaker 2: So? O type blood is the blood types that are 58 00:02:46,520 --> 00:02:49,160 Speaker 2: most frequently ordered by hospitals, so they can be used 59 00:02:49,160 --> 00:02:52,920 Speaker 2: in many emergency situations. You've got own negative that you 60 00:02:52,960 --> 00:02:56,200 Speaker 2: consider it universal blood types that's stopped in ambulances and 61 00:02:56,240 --> 00:02:58,919 Speaker 2: rescue helicopters because that can be used for anybody when 62 00:02:58,919 --> 00:03:01,120 Speaker 2: we don't know what they're where their blood type is, 63 00:03:01,120 --> 00:03:04,800 Speaker 2: which is great for an emergency situation. And then we've 64 00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:08,720 Speaker 2: got positive, which is the forty percent of people in 65 00:03:08,760 --> 00:03:11,120 Speaker 2: Australia have a positive blood, so we know that more 66 00:03:11,160 --> 00:03:13,480 Speaker 2: people have that blood and that can that can be 67 00:03:13,680 --> 00:03:18,160 Speaker 2: used for more of the population. Yeah, so that's but 68 00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:21,160 Speaker 2: of course, if you don't have positive, positive, or negative blood, 69 00:03:21,200 --> 00:03:23,040 Speaker 2: we love all blood, but they're the ones we know 70 00:03:23,080 --> 00:03:25,360 Speaker 2: that we can use in emergency situations. That they're the 71 00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:27,639 Speaker 2: ones that our supplies have been a bit low. So 72 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:30,320 Speaker 2: you can actually look at the nation's blood supplies on 73 00:03:30,360 --> 00:03:32,000 Speaker 2: our website, which is a great new tool that we 74 00:03:32,120 --> 00:03:34,880 Speaker 2: launched a year ago now actually, so you can hop 75 00:03:34,880 --> 00:03:38,080 Speaker 2: online in real time and see what our levels are 76 00:03:38,080 --> 00:03:40,760 Speaker 2: looking like and maybe can say, oh, that's my blood type. 77 00:03:40,800 --> 00:03:42,800 Speaker 2: I know, I'm going to go and donate blood. And 78 00:03:42,840 --> 00:03:44,600 Speaker 2: of course if you don't know your blood type, which 79 00:03:44,680 --> 00:03:47,600 Speaker 2: many people don't, you can go into the center and 80 00:03:47,640 --> 00:03:49,960 Speaker 2: you'll in when you donate. They'll actually send you a 81 00:03:49,960 --> 00:03:52,080 Speaker 2: text message after your first donation to let you know 82 00:03:52,120 --> 00:03:53,000 Speaker 2: what your blood type is. 83 00:03:53,120 --> 00:03:56,440 Speaker 1: That's a good idea. Now, tell me, is anyone able 84 00:03:56,480 --> 00:03:59,320 Speaker 1: to donate or that are there's still sort of some 85 00:03:59,320 --> 00:04:00,480 Speaker 1: some rules in place. 86 00:04:01,720 --> 00:04:03,920 Speaker 2: Great question. We know a lot of people rule themselves 87 00:04:03,960 --> 00:04:06,400 Speaker 2: out of donating because they think that they're not eligible. 88 00:04:06,840 --> 00:04:10,040 Speaker 2: But primarily, if you're age between eighteen and seventy five 89 00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:13,640 Speaker 2: and you're feeling healthy and well, you are mostly eligible. 90 00:04:13,680 --> 00:04:17,120 Speaker 2: To donate. There are some restrictions around if you're a medication, 91 00:04:17,279 --> 00:04:21,800 Speaker 2: if you've traveled overseas to a certain location, certain health 92 00:04:21,839 --> 00:04:23,960 Speaker 2: conditions that might rule you out. But the good thing 93 00:04:24,040 --> 00:04:26,920 Speaker 2: is some of those misconceptions around if you've got a tattoo, 94 00:04:27,560 --> 00:04:29,160 Speaker 2: or if you're a smoke or if you don't think 95 00:04:29,200 --> 00:04:32,720 Speaker 2: you're that fit, we still do accept your blood, so 96 00:04:32,920 --> 00:04:35,560 Speaker 2: don't rule yourself out. You can check online. There's a 97 00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:38,279 Speaker 2: little eligibility quiz which is nice and easy to take, 98 00:04:38,600 --> 00:04:40,960 Speaker 2: or you can even call our nurses on thirteen fourteen 99 00:04:41,080 --> 00:04:43,920 Speaker 2: ninety five to find out if you can donate blood today. 100 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:47,159 Speaker 1: All right, so just remind us to anybody out there 101 00:04:47,160 --> 00:04:50,440 Speaker 1: listening this morning who is keen to donate, what is 102 00:04:50,520 --> 00:04:53,440 Speaker 1: the best way for them to book an appointment and 103 00:04:53,600 --> 00:04:56,520 Speaker 1: get in there and help out with a blood donation. 104 00:04:57,600 --> 00:04:59,400 Speaker 2: The best way to make an appointment is to call 105 00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:03,080 Speaker 2: thirteen fourteen ninety five, or you can visit lifelood dot 106 00:05:03,120 --> 00:05:06,240 Speaker 2: com dot au, or there's an app called Donate Blood 107 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:09,240 Speaker 2: and you can use that app to book an appointment. 108 00:05:09,400 --> 00:05:11,719 Speaker 2: Or if you're passing by a center, pop in and 109 00:05:11,760 --> 00:05:13,839 Speaker 2: maybe we'll be able to squeeze you in well. 110 00:05:13,920 --> 00:05:18,120 Speaker 1: Red Cross Lifeblood pr and media manager Hannah Raymond, I 111 00:05:18,200 --> 00:05:20,440 Speaker 1: really appreciate your time this morning, thanks for having a 112 00:05:20,520 --> 00:05:21,440 Speaker 1: chat with us. 113 00:05:21,880 --> 00:05:24,159 Speaker 2: Thank you and looking forward to seeing all those Northern 114 00:05:24,240 --> 00:05:25,760 Speaker 2: territorianes roll up the Please. 115 00:05:26,600 --> 00:05:29,320 Speaker 1: I'm hoping so, Hannah. I'm hoping that you're able to 116 00:05:29,880 --> 00:05:33,120 Speaker 1: get everybody in there and meet those numbers. 117 00:05:33,839 --> 00:05:35,880 Speaker 2: Thank you for your support, Thank you, Thanks 118 00:05:35,920 --> 00:05:36,800 Speaker 1: So much for your time.