TAMWORTH needs 45 people with O-Negative blood to come forward and donate in the next two weeks, after a long cold and flu season has left stocks dangerously low.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Across the state, many of Red Cross’ regular donors have been too sick to give blood, with O-Negative reserves slipping to just one day in many places.
Only eight per cent of the population is O-Negative, but as the only universal blood type it’s in high demand. It’s used in emergency situations and stocked in ambulances, rescue helicopters and emergency rooms.
Red Cross estimated around 50 per cent of people don’t know their blood type, so it encourage anyone who wasn’t sure to make a donation and find out.
Donors who are affected by cold and flu symptoms are able to give blood seven days after making a full recovery.