A Mount Nasura resident is urging others to consider rolling up their sleeves and donating blood because a small personal contribution can make a life-saving difference for people in need.
Pauline Van Der Laan is a regular donor at the Lifeblood Cannington Donor Centre, continuing a practice she began as a high school student.
Ms Van Der Laan said she was introduced to blood donation in Year 12, when her teacher organised for a Lifeblood van to visit her school.
“They signed us all up,” she said.
“I didn’t go for a while after that, but then my brother encouraged a few of us to go together.
“From then on, I just kept doing it.”
Ms Van Der Laan said she felt nervous the first time she donated because she was unsure of how her body would react afterwards.
“Being in Year 12, I didn’t really know how I was going to feel,” she said.
“But I thought it was a good thing to do to help the community, and it was also a good experience to be exposed to that at a young age.”
She said donating blood gave her a sense of purpose and allowed her to give back to the community in a meaningful way.
“It’s only in a small way, but it’s something I can do,” she said.
She believes the lack of awareness and understanding is one of the main reasons people hesitate to donate.
“Some people might not know how the process works or how they’ll feel afterwards,” she said.
Ms Van Der Laan encouraged regular donors to share their experiences and invite friends or family members to attend appointments together.
“Like how my brother did, which got me back into it.,” she said.
Lifeblood is reminding the community that blood donations are a vital gift that costs nothing but time.
In the past year alone, more than 580,000 active donors across Australia provided 1.67 million donations, helping save close to five million lives.
Despite reaching this milestone, Lifeblood said demand for blood and plasma remained at an all-time high, with hospitals requiring more donations each year.
Lifeblood donor experience executive director Cath Stone said a growing and ageing population, combined with new diagnoses and medical treatments reliant on blood donations were driving the increased demand.
“You never know when you or someone you love will need a donation,” Ms Stone said.
She said the festive season was a critical period for donations, as many regular donors travelled or paused their routine.
“These donations can be used in emergency surgery, to support women during childbirth, or to help patients undergoing cancer treatment,” Ms Stone said.
“It can mean someone gets to spend another Christmas at home with their family.”
