As bush fires ravage the East Coast, many Australians are asking what they can do to help. The Red Cross Blood Service are asking everyone to roll up their sleeves to shore up blood supplies.
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Blood Cross Services have been forced to close their doors at Taree, Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie and Byron Bay.
Blood Service spokesperson Helen Walsh said they were looking to the rest of the country to help fill the gaps and ensure blood supplies stay strong.
"Given the unpredictability of the fires, the reality is we're unlikely to immediately know the full impact on donations until later in the week. We do know that we collect around 15 per cent of blood supplies for New South Wales in the areas where we have had to close our centres," she said.
So please, if you're eligible to donate, make an appointment at any blood donor centre in Australia and you will be helping maintain our stock levels int eh face of these catastrophic fires.
- Helen Walsh, Red Cross Blood Service.
There are also concerns for other centres down the coast where communities remain on high alert for fires in catastrophic conditions.
"In addition to the blood centre closures and with catastrophic fire warnings in place for much of the east coast, we are expecting to see an increase in donors needing to cancel their appointments at our Maitland, Newcastle and Gosford centres at a minimum," Ms Walsh said.
"With blood being a critical resource, we simply cannot afford to take a wait and watch approach and are calling for donors to please roll up their sleeves, now, in order to bolster the nation's blood stocks."
The Blood Service has reminded Australians that it is a national service.
"So please, if you're eligible to donate, make an appointment at any blood donor centre in Australia and you will be helping maintain our stock levels int eh face of these catastrophic fires," Ms Walsh said.
To donate call 13 14 95 or find your nearest donor centre here