Lifeblood needs 1800 Australians to give blood each day over the festive period so patients don’t miss out on life-saving treatments.

People with O and A blood types are in urgent demand because 80 per cent of the population falls into those blood groups, Lifeblood chief executive Stephen Cornelissen said.

“The need for blood doesn’t stop over the holiday period,” Professor Cornelissen said.

“We know many regular donors may take the opportunity to travel this year, which is why we’re urging people to make donating blood a priority.

“Someone will rely on blood every 18 seconds during the holidays, whether that is for serious accidents, surgery, complicated births, or cancer treatment.”

The call for donors comes as a new donation centre opens in Melbourne’s north on Tuesday.

The purpose-built site in Brunswick will collect more than 55,000 blood donations each year, which will help 165,000 patients.

“It is the first permanent centre we’ve built in Melbourne in more than a decade and is in response to a growing demand for blood and blood products,” Prof Cornelissen said.

Blood donor centres across Australia will be open on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

Tara Cosoleto
(Australian Associated Press)