It’s National Blood Donor Week, and what better way to celebrate than to save three lives.

The New Zealand Blood Service is in dire need of life-saving blood and plasma to save lives. 

If one person donates, they can save the lives of up to three people. 

Currently, the service has approximately 117,000 existing donors but needs about 40,000 more to meet the growing demand for blood and plasma.

The service is appealing to Hibiscus Coast locals to step up and become heroes by booking an appointment to become a blood donor.

Blood donor centres on the Hibiscus Coast are at the Orewa Baptist Church (4 Loop Road, Orewa) and Whangaparaoa’s Ignite Church (5 Link Crescent). 

There will also be a mobile blood drive from 26th to 28th of June in Orewa. 

Those who want to be a hero and save lives can do so by booking at https://www.nzblood.co.nz/become-a.../book-an-appointment/.

When you give blood, you’re giving a priceless gift that can’t be found anywhere else. 

Blood donation can be used in treatments for those going through cancer treatments, undergoing surgery, or those who have been in a traumatic accident. 

It can also be used to help those with autoimmune or bleeding disorders.

Donating blood will take between five and 10 minutes on a donor bed. 

The whole process (including registration, a confidential interview and post-donation recovery) will take around 60 minutes. 

Donating blood and plasma is not the same thing: a blood donation is when you donate your red blood cells, plasma and platelets into one bag. 

A plasma donation uses a special machine, where the red blood cells and platelets are returned to your body and only the plasma is collected into the bag.

The NZ Blood Service collects about 470ml of blood (roughly 8% of the average adult's blood volume), but your body replaces the fluids of the donated blood in just 24 hours, and in 6-8 weeks your red blood cells will be back to normal.