Contact Pat Irving 6847 4919 for further information.

Almost anyone aged from 16 to 70 years can give blood. Be part of something special and become a regular blood donor.

Dubbo Blood Donor Centre needs about 130 whole-blood donors and 35 plasma donors every week to meet supplies.

The centre is open on the first Saturday of every month from 8am to 2.30pm.

The blood service celebrated 80 years of operation on Friday October16 .

Giving blood is a selfless yet important act, so blood donors are very special.

A new online educational resource called ‘Blood Buddies’ is available to high school students.

It is free and can be accessed at www.donateblood.com.au It includes interactive education sections on the science of blood, who needs blood, a virtual blood bank tour and a blood history timeline which includes a ‘myth busters’ element.

The Dubbo Blood Donor Centre is looking for anyone who is, or has been, a recipient. Please make contact so your story can be shared with others.

Blood is constantly needed because it has a limited shelf life.

Platelets last for just five days, red cells for 42 days and plasma for up to one year. Giving blood takes just 15 minutes, with an hour recommended for the donation process.

In this time you can save three lives.

A typical blood donation of 470ml is less than 10 per cent of total blood volume.

The human body keeps discarding and replenishing blood all the time whether you give blood or not- a blood donation puts that spare blood to use saving lives.

Thanks to everyone for your blood donations and a big thank you from everyone you’ve saved.