Teaming up to give blood and save lives
Lifeblood teams committed to helping their communities by donating blood.
A blood donation drive by the Harbour City Auto Club in Gladstone is set to become a regular event.
Club member Sonya Waters said the blood drive, dubbed the Blood Thirsty Blood Drive, was a great way to support the community.
“The idea for a club blood run came from our accountant,” Sonya said.
“We decided as a club to give donating together a go.
“We are now wanting to this as an event within our club once or twice a year because the need for blood and blood products is important for our community.”
Ms Waters said donating blood was a perfect fit for the car enthusiasts.
“Many of our members are loyal customers of RACQ as well as of our car club,” she said.
“Organising a group donation at the Gladstone Donor Centre was simple and easy to do, the ladies there are so helpful and were amazing to work with. We are looking forward to our next group donation.”
Australian Red Cross Lifeblood Group Account Manager Rosie Barton said the Lifeblood teams program was unique because it encouraged businesses, community groups and educational facilities to join together and save lives through blood and plasma donation.
“Our Lifeblood teams can track their donation tally online at any time so they can see the impact that they are having together,” Ms Barton said.
“At Gladstone Donor Centre, our Lifeblood teams members make more than 50% of all donations of blood and plasma.
“Each blood donation can save up to three lives, and plasma can be used in 18 different life-giving ways.”
Ms Barton said Australia needed about 33,000 donations a week to meet demand and she urged Queenslander to consider “giving the gift of life this holiday season b donating blood”.
“One in three Australians will need blood or blood products in their lifetime but only one in 30 donate,” she said.
RACQ's Alison Proctor gave blood for the first time.
RACQ supports Lifeblood
In 2022 RACQ staff gave 80 whole blood and 73 plasma donations which could save 459 lives.
In early December, the Red Cross Mobile Blood Donor Centre visited RACQ’s Eight Mile Plains offices.
That visit saw 28 staff give blood, including 14 first-time donors, which helped 84 people in need over the following five days.
First-time donor Alison Proctor had been unable to donate previously because of her United Kingdom heritage.
Until July 2022, people who had spent more than six months in the UK between 1980 and 1996 were not allowed to give blood in Australia because of the possibility they could be carrying ‘mad cow’ disease.
“As a native of the motherland, I couldn't donate before,” Alison said.
“I was very proud when I found out I was A negative, as only six percent of the population are, and to give the gift of life that's pretty special.”
Learn more about donating blood with Red Cross
More articles
Related topics
-
The information in this article has been prepared for general information purposes only and is not intended as legal advice or specific advice to any particular person. Any advice contained in the document is general advice, not intended as legal advice or professional advice and does not take into account any person’s particular circumstances. Before acting on anything based on this advice you should consider its appropriateness to you, having regard to your objectives and needs.
Insurance products (excluding Travel Insurance) are issued by RACQ Insurance Limited ABN 50 009 704 152 (RACQ). Conditions, limits and exclusions apply. This is general advice only and may not be right for you. This information does not take your personal objectives, circumstances or needs into account. Read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and any applicable Supplementary PDS before making a purchase decision on this product. You can also access our Target Market Determinations on this website.
Banking and loan products issued by Members Banking Group Limited ABN 83 087 651 054 AFSL/Australian credit licence 241195 trading as RACQ Bank. Terms, conditions, fees, charges and lending policies apply. This is general advice only and may not be right for you. This information does not take your personal objectives, circumstances or needs into account. Read the disclosure documents for your selected product or service, including the Financial Services Guide and the Terms and Conditions, and consider if appropriate for you before deciding.
Except for RACQ Bank, any RACQ entity referred to on this page is not an authorised deposit-taking institution for the purposes of the Banking Act 1959 (Cth). That entity’s obligations do not represent deposits or other liabilities of RACQ Bank. RACQ Bank does not guarantee or otherwise provide assurance in respect of the obligations of that entity, unless noted otherwise.
RACQ Operations Pty Ltd (ABN 80 009 663 414 AR 000234978) and Members Travel Group Pty Ltd (ABN 45 144 538 803 AR 000432492) are acting as an Authorised Representative of the issuer of the insurance, Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd. (ABN 80 000 438 291 AFSL 246 548). Any advice set out above is general in nature only, and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before purchasing any travel products, please consider the RACQ Travel Insurance Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and the Target Market Determinations (TMDs) that apply to these products. Whilst the PDS outlines the Terms and Conditions of these products, the TMDs outline the intended class of customers that comprise the target market for these travel products. This will allow you to consider which products best suit your objectives, financial situation and needs and consider the products appropriateness to your personal circumstances. TMDs also outline matters involving the distribution and the review of these products. The PDS, Supplementary PDS and TMDs for each travel product can be found here.