‘I would encourage everyone to donate blood’.
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Port Macquarie's Christine Kemp is a long-term blood donor but was celebrating her 42nd donation at the Port Macquarie blood service on Wednesday March 7.
"I just love giving back to the community," said Mrs Kemp, who is also a nurse.
"There is always a need for blood and or plasma. I have a regular fortnightly appointment and I would encourage everyone to donate blood.
"The more the merrier."
Although a long-term blood donor at Kempsey - she started when she was 18 years old, Mrs Kemp was celebrating her 42nd donation at the Port Macquarie centre.
The number '42' coincides with an awareness campaign currently being promoted by the Australian Red Cross Blood Service.
In a recent survey, the service found that almost 90 per cent of Australians don’t know how long donated blood lasts for. The answer is 42 days.
The survey also revealed more than a third of Australians would be more likely to donate blood if they knew it had a short shelf life, said blood service spokesperson Stuart Ward.
"The findings prompted the blood service to launch a new campaign, which aims to recruit 8000 new blood donors every month," Mr Ward said.
The findings prompted the blood service to launch a new campaign, which aims to recruit 8000 new blood donors every month.
- Stuart Ward
“Coincidentally, in Douglas Adams’ book The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, 42 is the answer to the question of life, the universe and everything.
“This certainly rings true for those Australians who need blood; for them blood donations mean life, the universe and everything.”
Similar misconceptions about blood donor rates and blood need could also explain why one in five of those surveyed had never considered donating blood.
“Australians are overestimating how many people donate blood, and underestimating how much blood is actually needed,” Mr Ward said.
“More than half of the respondents thought at least one in 10 people were blood donors, but the real figure is much less; only one in 30.
“And 80 per cent either didn’t know or underestimated the number of blood donations Australian patients need each year.
“We’re hoping that our new campaign, which educates donors on the 42 day shelf life of blood, will motivate more people to donate today and donate regularly.”
To be life, the universe and everything to someone in need, visit donateblood.com.au/42 and sign up to give blood.