The Australian Red Cross Lifeblood van will be at the High St car park from today to July 14.
Blood donations drop in winter due to the colder weather, but residents of the twin towns and surrounding districts are encouraged to make a donation.
“We are expecting those cancellations to increase over the coming weeks so are asking people with O and A blood types to book a donation,” an Australian Red Cross Lifeblood spokesperson said.
“More than 80 per cent of the population has an O or A blood type, meaning these are the types most needed by patients.”
There are more than 150 appointments available in Echuca for the duration of the blood bank’s stay, many of which are in the third and fourth weeks.
Regular donors and new ones can visit the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood website and book for a donation.
Every donation is greatly appreciated, but some blood types are needed more than others.
“O negative, the universal blood type, is found in fewer than 7 per cent of the population, making it one of the rarer blood types, however its versatility means it makes up 16 per cent of the blood ordered by hospitals,” the spokesperson said.
The visit to Echuca helps ensure patients that need a blood transfusion can readily access donations regardless of where they live.
Regular donations are required as red blood cells have a shelf life of 42 days from the donation date.
Australia needs more than 1.7 million donations every year to meet demand, totalling three every minute.
“Emergency service workers are used to coming to the rescue in times of need and emergencies, and at this time of year they will also help save lives by donating blood and plasma,” the spokesperson said.
There are eight main blood types, from common to rarest, in Australia.
O positive 40%; O negative 9%; A positive 31%; A negative 7%; B positive 8%; B negative 2%; AB positive 2%; and AB negative 1%.
To donate visit www.lifeblood.com.au/donor-centre/vic/echuca-mobile-donor-centre