AUSTRALIAN Red Cross Lifeblood urgently needs nearly 70 Wangaratta locals to give blood between now and April 20.
People with O positive and O negative blood types are particularly needed to donate blood.
O negative is the universal blood type and can be given in emergency situations where a patient's blood group is unknown and is often stocked on ambulances and rescue helicopters.
Just one trauma patient can need huge quantities of blood in a short amount of time, which is why it's so important to have O negative blood on hand.
"Easter along with the school holidays is traditionally a time when many of our donors take a well–deserved break, but this year is particularly difficult with two consecutive long weekends for Easter and ANZAC Day," Kerry Henderson from Lifeblood said .
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"We are encouraging locals to give just an hour of their time between 11 and 20 April and give the gift of life."
Ms Henderson also noted that the omicron wave as well as tragic flooding in New South Wales and Queensland had hit Australia's blood stocks hard.
"Not only has omicron swept the country forcing people to quarantine and isolate, but we've also seen catastrophic flooding affecting many thousands of people and impacting their ability to donate blood.
"Blood will be needed by thousands of people every day this Easter weekend, including trauma and emergency patients, mums delivering babies, and people undergoing cancer treatment. If you can, please book a donation," Ms Henderson said.
The Wangaratta Donor Centre is located at 17a Norton Street, Wangaratta.
To book a donation, visit lifeblood.com.au, download the free Donate Blood app or call 13 14 95.
