Lifeblood donors easier to spot this National Blood Donor Week with red bandages to become the new norm

Blood and plasma donors will be easier to spot from this week with Australian Red Cross Lifeblood permanently replacing its white arm bandages with branded red ones.

The move during National Blood Donor Week is backed by research, revealing that applying a branded bandage was an effective way to identify donors and wearers were perceived to be generous, altruistic and moral.

The inaugural red bandage features the organisation’s “Life is the Reason” campaign tag line.

Lifeblood needs more than 1.7 million donations every year to meet the 12-year-high demand for blood and blood products.

Lifeblood acting chief executive Cath Stone said she hoped the new bandages would promote discussions about blood donations and encourage more people to become donors.

“A new blood donor is needed every five minutes in Australia, and that means we need people talking and thinking about blood and plasma donation, and encouraging each other to roll up their sleeves,” she said.

“We know that branded post-donation bandages are a great way to start conversations and boost awareness about blood donation.”

A Life is the Reason hub, where donors can submit their reasons for donating has already received more than 12,000 responses.

A recent analysis revealed the most common reason people donate is to help others.

Other top reasons include because they can, to give back, and to save lives.

For others, it’s simply for the party pies.

To book a donation, call 13 14 95, visit lifeblood.com.au or download the Donate Blood App.