People in Queenstown Lakes District will have an
opportunity to help save up to three lives at the end of
this month, with New Zealand Blood Service (NZBS) set to
host its first mobile blood drive in the district region
since 2019.
The mobile drive will take place at St
Margaret’s Church in Frankton from March 28-30.
Hours
are as follows:
- Tuesday, March 28, 8.30am to
1.30pm - Wednesday, March 29, 7.30am to
1.30pm - Thursday, March 30, 7.30am to
12.30pm.
“It’s been a long time between
collects since we were last in Queenstown Lakes Districts
and we’re looking forward to our upcoming visit,” says
Donor Relations Team Leader – Southern Atawhai Te
Hau.
“One blood donation takes just an hour and can
save up to three lives. This is a chance to make a real
difference and give hope to someone in need.”
With
spaces limited during the three-day mobile drive, donors are
being encouraged to book an appointment as soon as possible
to ensure they don’t miss out on a rare chance to donate
in their own backyard.
“There is an incredibly
passionate community of blood donors in Queenstown Lakes
District who have been quite vocal during the last four
years about having an opportunity to donate in their neck of
the woods.
“A big reason why we don’t often visit
Queenstown Lakes District is because it poses some
logistical and financial challenges for us in terms of
flying donated blood back to Christchurch each day for
processing in a timely manner once it has been
collected.
“However, we have listened to the
feedback we have received from donors and have been able to
work around that by collecting earlier in the day. Now that
we’re coming, our hope is the Queenstown Lakes District
community turns out in force to ensure we can hit our
collection targets during the three days we are
here.”
NZBS is aiming to collect 200 donations while
in Queenstown Lakes District.
New donors are
encouraged to find out if they are eligible at nzblood.co.nz and then book
an appointment to donate.
Those who have previously
been told they could not give blood due to their age or a
medical condition are also asked to check the updated NZBS
donor eligibility criteria.
To book an appointment to
donate at the Queenstown mobile drive, visit nzblood.co.nz, download the
New Zealand Blood Service Donor App or call 0800 448
325.
Did you know?
- Less than four percent
of the eligible population in New Zealand currently
donates. - NZBS needs to collect more than 5000
donations nationally each week to keep pace with current
demand. - Blood only lasts 35 days.
- All blood
types are greatly needed, although there is more demand for
A and O blood groups given 80 percent of the population has
these blood types. - A blood donation is separated
into red blood cells, plasma and platelets after it has been
processed, meaning several people can benefit from just one
donation.
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