If you’ve ever been in a hospital, an ambulance or other life-threatening situation, having a supply of blood on hand for a transfusion is something many of us may take for granted, or not even think about in the first place.

But to get a transfusion, that blood needs to have been donated by someone else - a task that’s proving difficult as the high COVID case numbers force donors to cancel their appointments.

Now, the Red Cross has warned that the national blood supply has just days left until it runs out and has urged Australians to donate blood, especially those with rare O negative blood types.

Compounding the issue is the approaching Easter and Anzac Day long weekends, where an increase in road accidents prompts higher demand for blood.

Today on Please Explain, health reporter Mary Ward joins Dominic Powell to discuss the shortage and why it has happened.

If you&rsquo;ve ever been in a hospital, an ambulance or other life-threatening situation, having a supply of blood on hand for a transfusion is something many of us may take for granted, or not even think about in the first place.
But to get a transfusion, that blood needs to have been donated by someone else - a task that&rsquo;s proving difficult as the high COVID case numbers force donors to cancel their appointments.
Now, the Red Cross has warned that the national blood supply has just days left until it runs out and has urged Australians to donate blood, especially those with rare O negative blood types.
Compounding the issue is the approaching Easter and Anzac Day long weekends, where an increase in road accidents prompts higher demand for blood.
Today on Please Explain, health reporter Mary Ward joins Dominic Powell to discuss the shortage and why it has happened.

The Morning Edition (formerly Please Explain) brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

The Morning Edition (formerly Please Explain) brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

The Morning Edition

The Morning Edition brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

The Morning Edition brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

Advertisement