Photo by Herald Post, Flickr.
The Australian Red Cross is urging Melburnians not to let Olympic fever stop blood donations over the next two weeks.
Australia needs 54,000 donations over the next fortnight, but it is estimated only 32,000 appointments have been made – a shortfall of 22,000 appointments.
But with multiple limitations preventing people from giving blood, many feel the process is too complicated.
Red Cross Blood Service spokesman Sean Inguanzo says despite the potential shortage the limitations are necessary to maintain the purity of the blood.
Mr Inguanzo says the safety of those receiving the blood transfusions is of the highest priority.
“If the appropriate precautions aren’t taken in the screening process, I’d hate to think what would happen to patients who are already very sick and need blood to survive,” Mr Inguanzo says.
But students say the complexities surrounding blood donations are putting them off getting involved.
Ineligible donors
- Gay Men
The Red Cross says: A man who has had intercourse with another man in the past 12 months cannot give blood.
Charlie Penton-Dodds, 24, is in a homosexual relationship and says the restrictions are both dated and discriminatory.
As a healthy young male, Mr Penton-Dodds says he would be a perfect candidate for blood donation and would happily be a regular donor.
“It really pisses me off to be honest. Australia desperately needs blood and placing restrictions on a large proportion of the public, those who conduct male-on-male sexual activities ie, gay males, is ridiculous and needs to be changed.”
The Red Cross is reviewing the current deferral policies relating to sexual activity of blood donors.
- Mad Cow Disease
The Red Cross says: If you’ve been in the UK between January 1, 1980 and December 31, 1996 for more than 6 months you cannot give blood.
Mr Inguanzo explains that this is because there is no way of testing for mad cow disease and the risks are too high.
But John Savage, 24, thinks this limitation is “ridiculous”. Mr Savage visited the UK on a family holiday during the Mad Cow outbreak yet finds it difficult to believe he is ineligible to give blood as a result.
“It’s not as if I’m a drug-user, I’m perfectly healthy and I probably don’t even have the disease,” Mr Savage said.
Eligible donors
RMIT student Louise Nixon heard the Red Cross call-out and took herself to the nearest donation point to find out if she was able to donate.
After answering a list of medical questions Ms Nixon was given the all clear. She said the experience was highly rewarding.
Although the screening process was long winded, Ms Nixon understood why it was necessary.
“I think it is vital that the Red Cross have some many restrictions. You don’t want a chance of blood with some sort of disease in it being given to a cancer patient whose immune system is so low they can’t risk getting sick,” Ms Nixon said.
Worth noting
The restrictions limiting some Victorians from donating blood, do not limit the donation of plasma, another lifesaving property.
If you would like to donate blood call on 131495 and the Red Cross can help you by asking a quick series of questions to assess your eligibility.
Where to donate in the CBD
View Blood Donation Centres (CBD) in a larger map
Hear the full interview with Red Cross Blood Service Spokesperson Shaun Inguanzo.
Do you think the Red Cross blood donation restrictions are too strict?
