Tamworth Regional Council aims to claim national Red25 blood donation title

TRC has won the last two national Red25 blood challenges and is hoping to bag a hat-trick in 2018. The competition tallies donations from staff and councillors and family members.

In 2017, council recorded 224 donations of blood and plasma, which was enough to save 672 lives.

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This was almost 100 more donations than Tamworth’s closest rival, City of Greater Geelong council, and represented an increase of 52 per cent on the number of donations TRC registered had in 2016.

One-in-three people will need a blood donation during their lives, and it might surprise some to know that only two per cent of donated blood goes to trauma or car accident victims.

Around one-third of donations help people with cancer and the rest go towards treating serious medical issues ranging from pregnancy complications to immune conditions and heart disease.

The Red25 blood drive aims to unite organisations across Australia to donate 25 per cent of the 1 million-plus blood donations needed every year, with 25,000 donations needed every single week.

Mayor Col Murray is a regular blood donor and encouraged council staff, friends and family to do the same.

“It’s important for people to know that if you are a friend or family member of a council staff member, your donation will count towards the challenge,” Cr Murray said.

“And it’s something that is so rewarding, knowing that you are saving lives through such a simple process.”

While the blood drive is asking people to get involved during winter, the Australian Red Cross will not take donations from people experiencing a cold or the flu.

You can donate once you feel fully recovered from the cold, however influenza renders you ineligible for two weeks following recovery.

You need to wait four months after getting the tattoo before you can donate blood.

The Red 25 Councils Blood Challenge 2018 runs from July 1 to September 30.