Mobile blood drives are preparing to hit holiday hotspots this summer – typically a time when donations slow down.
The New Zealand Blood Service said 24,000 appointments need to be filled before Christmas to ensure it can meet demand.
One recent drive – which took place at the Waihī Memorial Hall – is one of 140 which will be set up across the country between now and the end of January.
NZ Blood Service donor relations team leader Rachel Bowman said it requires “around 5000 donations per week right across the country to keep up with the demand”.
She said the summer months are “a really difficult time for us”.
“People are heading off on holiday. We are going to hit specific holiday destinations.”
One blood donation takes just under an hour, and can save up to three lives. A plasma donation can be made into 11 different products, including treatments for cancer and autoimmune diseases.
Demand for plasma is projected to double in the next three years.
Regular blood donor Zanda Perano has provided “almost 150 donations” since he began 20 years ago.
He told 1News at this time of year people are busier, meaning things like donating blood “do king of drop off on people’s schedules or people’s radar”.
“People’s issues don’t have a break over summer.”
Someone in New Zealand needs blood on average every 18 minutes, but just 3.7% of the eligible population donate.
As well as doing good, there’s another incentive to sweeten the deal.
“[There’s] OJs and KitKats,” Bowman said. “Come on, who doesn’t like a KitKat or two?”
While some may not like needles or the sight of blood, Perano urged people to “just give it a go”.
“Be brave.”
