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Urgent calls for more blood donors

Author
Newstalk ZB staff,
Publish Date
Mon, 16 Oct 2017, 7:19AM
She said O negative is still the most needed blood, as it can be used universally in an emergency. (Photo \ Getty Images)

Urgent calls for more blood donors

Author
Newstalk ZB staff,
Publish Date
Mon, 16 Oct 2017, 7:19AM

Urgent calls for more blood donors, as thousands of people stop donating every year.

The Blood Service is starting its campaign asking people to help fill the gaps to meet the demand of nearly 500 donations per day.

Asuka Burge told Rachel Smalley that means donors of all blood types are needed.

"More people think aw I've got a really common blood type [but] because you are common that's the blood type that are generally in need in hospitals because that's the blood type people have."

She said O negative is still the most needed blood, as it can be used universally in an emergency.

Burge said about 20,000 donors drop off every year.

"This is due to things like illness, retirement, personal choice, therefore we need to find new donors every year to ensure we can continue to meet the demand for blood in hospitals in New Zealand."

LISTEN ABOVE AS ASUKA BURGE SPEAKS WITH RACHEL SMALLEY

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