The favourite Friday afternoon pastime of sharing a good drop with workmates or friends now has new meaning in Noarlunga. From February 2006, the Noarlunga Hospital Donation Centre of the Australian Red Cross Blood Service will be opening every Friday. Currently the centre opens from Monday to Thursday and for one Friday and Saturday each month.

The additional opening day is being introduced to give people who already donate a greater choice of appointment times, as well as help the Blood Service meet the ongoing need for blood by attracting new donors to the Friday afternoon time slot.

One in three South Australians will need blood or blood products during their lifetime, yet currently only one in 30 people give blood each year.

Donor blood is vital for treating a multitude of patients including cancer sufferers, burns and trauma victims, organ transplant recipients, people with heart disease and premature babies. Thirty per cent of all donated blood is used in treatments for cancer patients.

Marketing and Communications Officer for Blood Service, Kylie Meznar, said that in addition to giving existing donors more choice with appointment times, it was hoped the new Friday sessions at Noarlunga would help encourage new blood donors.

“Friday afternoons is often a popular time for friends and workmates to get together and socialise after a long week,” she said.

“With people now able to give blood at Noarlunga on a Friday afternoon, we’re hoping this might encourage our existing donors to bring with them a new donor workmate or friend to donate. They can then sit back and relax with a well-earned Friday afternoon drink and snack after making their special gift of life.”

To become a blood donor people need to be in general good health, weigh more than 45kg and be between 16 and 70 years of age.

The Blood Service’s Donation Centre at the Noarlunga Hospital (Alexander Kelly Drive) is now open from Monday to Friday, from 2.20pm to 7pm daily. To make an appointment directly at Noarlunga, please call 8384 9795. For any other information, please phone 13 14 95 or visit www.donateblood.com.au.

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