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Lifeblood calls for urgent donations of A and O blood in Victoria

Australian Red Cross Lifeblood is urgently calling for 5,500 Victorians with A and O blood to donate within the next week as its blood supplies run very low.

Victoria needs more people to donate than anywhere else in the country. It is one of the most populated states, and demand is high after a long and intense 2025 winter saw people cancel donations due to cold and flu infections.

More donors are needed urgently to prevent Lifeblood’s stocks falling to critical levels by June, and to protect the blood supplies hospitals rely on for cancer treatment, surgery, trauma care and childbirth.

Lifeblood spokesperson Cath Stone said Type O and A blood are among the types most frequently ordered by hospitals.

“Winter is always a challenging time for blood donation,” she said.

When people are unwell with colds or flu, they can’t donate, even if they want to. But the need for blood doesn’t slow down. Patients undergoing cancer treatment, people needing surgery, and those injured in accidents rely on blood every single day. Continue reading...