Technician Kris Kalew taking blood from donor Dawn Walters. PHOTO/KAREN COLTMAN
KAREN COLTMAN
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Nineteen-year-old Dawn Walters was relaxed giving blood on Monday in Masterton.
When the needle went in, she looked away briefly, squeezed her blood drop shaped squishy and got back to texting. Meanwhile her blood flowed out of her arm into a 500-millilitre plastic bag for collection.
Walters has been donating for three years now.
Throughout the day a steady flow of regular Wairarapa donors went into the Masterton Senior Citizens Club on Cole Street.
Many of them get updates on their NZ Blood App to find out when and where to give blood. They can donate every three months if they choose.
“I do it to help people,” Walters said. “It costs me nothing to help this way. It is not a big sacrifice from me to perhaps save a life.
“I’m trying to get my friends to do it, but they won’t at this stage. But really they should.”
The New Zealand Blood Service website promotion line this summer is ‘Donate an hour of your summer and save a life today’.
Clinical nurse leader Gerado Carrera had nine staff working at the club premises collecting blood from 9am to 2.30pm.
“There is a national shortage of type A blood in the country,” Carrera said. “Somewhere around New Zealand it is being used more than usual. But as A is a common type, we are managing to get more in.”
Carrera said Masterton was the only regular collection point in Wairarapa, and could be relied upon.
“Masterton is great as we have over 300 people donating regularly. People here seem happy to do it, in fact for many they have the date marked up in their diaries as an event they look forward to.”
Red Cross volunteers served juice, tea, coffee and biscuits to donors. More than 25 litres of blood was transported to Wellington on Monday afternoon for distribution to where it was needed.
More information: www.nzblood.co.nz
Sadly, due to finance restraints, the visits to Masterton have been reduced from 2 days to 4 hours, which dramatically reduces the contribution locals can make. We all hope this can be remedied soon!