World Blood Donor Day

World Blood Donor Day was established in 2005 and designated as a special day to thank blood donors, to encourage more people to give blood freely and to raise awareness about the global need for safe blood and blood products. An important resource for planned treatments and urgent interventions, blood helps people live longer and with a higher quality of life. It is vital for treating the wounded during emergencies (natural disasters, accidents, armed conflicts, etc.) and has an essential, life-saving role in maternal and perinatal care. Key to an effective health system in any region is national coordination of blood services that give timely access to safe blood and blood products in sufficient quantity, as well as a blood transfusion service based on voluntary non-remunerated blood donations.

In Australia, blood (as well as tissue, organs, breast milk, and other life-saving biological products) can be donated to Australian Red Cross Lifeblood. This is an Australia-wide network of over 100 donor centres receiving 1.5 million donations and undertaking 103,000 deliveries each year. To learn more about how you can help save lives through regular donations go here.