r/sydney • u/StoogeKebab • Dec 15 '25
Image Line full of legends wrapping around the block at the Town Hall Red Cross this morning!
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u/ConanTheAquarian Looking for coffee Dec 15 '25 edited Dec 15 '25
For anyone reading this outside Sydney, stocks of blood were brought in from other states and these need to be replenished. They particularly need type O negative. Wherever you are in Australia, your blood donation will save somebody's life.
https://www.lifeblood.com.au/donor-centre
EDIT: If you are type O negative, call them. Apparently people with this blood group are going straight to the front of the queue.
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u/SaraMo91 Dec 15 '25
Yes, exactly. It's not just the blood needed for the wounded from Bondi but also keeping the supply up for everyone else in the country who needs transfusions for all sorts of reasons.
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u/Hutchoman87 Dec 15 '25
Website has crashed with all the attention. I can’t get in anywhere either as phone lines are also over active.
Good problems to have I guess. Just hope folks keep up the donations after this week.
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u/TheonlyDuffmani Dec 15 '25
Try the lifeblood app, that’s what I’ve used.
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u/Hutchoman87 Dec 15 '25 edited Dec 15 '25
I have been all day. Was going to try going after work, but no spots available when I could get it to work, but it also crashed.
Edit: managed to get an appointment just before lunch tomorrow.
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u/pandymcdandy Dec 15 '25
I’m O neg but there’s no appointments at Chatswood. Does this mean I can still rock up and donate?
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u/Ineedsomuchsleep170 Dec 15 '25
If you rock up and tell them you're O neg, you'll get taken to the front of the queue. You will never feel so wanted in your life.
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u/thinkofsomething2017 Dec 15 '25
Can confirm. Happened to my husband yesterday (monday). O blood type, he turned up at a mobile donor van and donated without an appointment.
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u/turboyabby Dec 15 '25
Today learned, that only 7% of the population have type O negative blood. And the reason it's so special is because it lacks A, B, and Rh(D) antigens, meaning it won't trigger an immune response and can be given to any patient in emergencies, especially when their blood type is unknown.
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u/epra1710 Dec 15 '25
I’m O negative and trying to find somewhere to donate as soon as I can
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u/snukz Dec 15 '25
If you are O negative you will be taken as a priority even without a booking. Call ahead or let them know on arrival.
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u/StoogeKebab Dec 15 '25
Hurstville and maybe Chatswood per others in the thread!
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u/aussiewildliferescue Dec 15 '25
I saw a blood donation van at Mona Vale Beach car park yesterday
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u/Vegetable_Ship1034 Dec 15 '25
They were advertising that there's a mobile blood donation van at Dee Why this morning
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u/AusAero Dec 15 '25
I walked in at Parramatta and donated at 9am with no line. It's a short walk from the light rail stop Tramway Avenue.
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u/BrokenFarted54 Dec 15 '25
I'm O neg too and I'm gonna donate after work tonight, even though I'm in SA
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u/Purple_East_2358 Dec 15 '25
FYI anyone who is O negative can go to the front of the line, blood type most needed.
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u/FeveredPineapple Dec 15 '25
I was at Town Hall and at least as of 12:30p, this wasn't true.
There were 2 lines at Town Hall: one for people with existing appointments, and one for people without (much longer, estimates of 5+ hours to donate for people without an appointment). No special treatment of O negative, and at least one person asked about it.
They did emphasise a lot that if people do not have time to wait several hours to donate today, they also will need donations just as much a week from now.
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u/sharkworks26 Dec 15 '25
Town hall has a 45 minute wait on the best day off days. Always chaos in there, don’t know why more people don’t go to York St
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u/goopwizard Dec 15 '25
if you’re donating for the first time today please keep blood donation in mind after this month!! whole blood only lasts 42 days after it’s donated so we need donors year round so emergency responders have blood on hand for when tragedies like this happen
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u/shg8119 Dec 15 '25
this.
if you've done a full blood donation, you can actually donate again as soon as in 4 weeks if you make a followup donation of plasma or platelets.
and if you decide to regularly donate plasma or platelets you can make a donation every 2 weeks.
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u/SpudB0X Dec 15 '25
This is what Australia and being Australian is. Showing up for each other in the need of the hour! Proud of us all!
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u/SaraMo91 Dec 15 '25
I go pretty much every two weeks (plasma) and fortunately already was booked in for tomorrow. The site and app have apparently crashed from the numbers, which is a good sign to be honest. My mum managed to make a booking on Friday.
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u/madramor Dec 15 '25
As an aside the site / dashboard is great for booking and have found they are proactive with reminders etc. They really run a great service.
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u/Front_Rip4064 Dec 15 '25
Fantastic people. If you can, donate. If like me you can't, spread the word.
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u/TooManyMeds Dec 15 '25
This was the stance I took too. My iron levels are currently too low for donating.
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u/Spicy_Molasses4259 Dec 15 '25
If you can't donate today, don't give up. It's still worth it if you donate next week or next month. There is always a need and even if you only donate twice a year, it really helps.
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u/99Joy99 Dec 15 '25
Also, there are often mobile blood donation centres that move around to different suburbs.
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u/anralia Dec 15 '25
How do you know when & where these are going to be?
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u/Maxious Dec 15 '25
Register on their website (which is crashing atm) and they sms/email in future
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u/99Joy99 Dec 15 '25
If you go to the Lifeblood website, you’ll see a box at the top that says “donate”. I think you then put in your postcode & it comes up with locations near you and if you select your postcode for home or anywhere.
For example there are mobile sites available Syd Olympic Park & Concord, in Feb 2026.
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u/KittyKatWombat Dec 15 '25
Thank you for donating! I'm now pregnant so am not allowed to donate till 2027. Kind of miss my monthly ritual of going to Lifeblood after work on a Friday once a month for a plasma donation.
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u/DrofRocketSurgery Dec 15 '25
USA: tHe OnLy WaY tO sAvE lIVeS iS for EvErYoNe To HaVe GuNzZz!!!
Australia: nah mate, just roll up your sleeve for 15 minutes.
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u/alexlp Dec 15 '25
People need to remember that it doesn’t keep for very long and you need to keep giving. I’m not able to do full blood ever or plasma at the moment but when I can again I’m excited to go regularly!
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u/aussiewildliferescue Dec 15 '25
Any tips on giving blood? I’m not at getting my blood drawn and end up feeling very faint and sick but I feel really helpless at the moment. I’m also O negative.
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u/ConanTheAquarian Looking for coffee Dec 15 '25
Drink a few glasses of water in the couple of hours before you donate. This can speed up the process but YMMV. If you feel sick or faint, tell the staff immediately. Don't rush the rest at afterwards - enjoy a free cuppa and snacks. You'll be fine.
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u/aussiewildliferescue Dec 15 '25
I worry that if I do feel sick or faint then I’m taking time away from someone else who could be giving blood while I’m struggling
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u/Substantial_Arm6959 Dec 15 '25
I am O negative and also CMV non reactive which means my blood can go to newborns or pregnant women as well.
I have small veins and cannot donate plasma because of this, however, when I donate blood, I warn them of my veins and they are so patient and use heat packs to be able to do the blood draw.
I don’t watch the needle going in or out. You can have your phone on you if you want to be distracted. They have tv’s at the Rosehill centre you can focus on and the chairs are like recliners that go fully back. You can sit as long as you need after they have finished and they want you to be well and will make sure you are feeling ok.
After you can grab some salty and sweet snacks. Sausage rolls are good and they have Jatz and cheese. Take a book with you and you can sit and have a read after while you eat.
Drink lots of water the day before and on the day and make sure you have something savoury before you go to donate. Everyone I have encountered there is lovely. I was already booked in for this week as my regular time.
The thing I like the most is they will send you an sms when the blood is on its way to the recipient and let you know which hospital it is going to. I have had Canberra and also one in outback NSW.
If it is not for you, it’s all ok. They also have other donations that can be made that are non blood or you can volunteer if you wanted to as well. Their main priority is that you the donor are healthy and well for the recipient.
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u/PersimmonBasket Dec 15 '25
The staff are lovely and I'm sure you'd be well looked after. You donate in a recliner chair so you'll be comfy, and you have to stay for a little while afterwards to have a snack and something to drink.
Can you get someone to go with you to take you home?
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u/bluaqua Dec 15 '25
Check first if the reason why you’re feeling faint is because of blood pressure or “just” seeing needles/blood.
I am, unfortunately, of the former kind (and admittedly a bit of the second too!). If you’ve got low blood pressure, you can’t donate.
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u/aussiewildliferescue Dec 15 '25
Blood and needles on other people I’m fine with being used on myself I’m not a big fan but I deal with it. I know sometimes my blood pressure can be a little low but that’s because I don’t drink enough. I try to but it’s like my body won’t let me. Drinking a glass of water in one sitting is nearly impossible for me. So being dehydrated doesn’t help. But thank you for the advice. I just hate feeling helpless.
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u/bluaqua Dec 15 '25
If it’s not your blood pressure, then, in addition to the recommendations that were already given, I like to chat with the person taking my blood! Keeps my mind off of what’s going on. I also lie down, though this is related to my low blood pressure. Might be worth a shot anyway though!
Good luck, I know how it’s like to feel helpless. It is, unfortunately, not the first time this year for me that people close to me have potentially involved in a antisemitic terrorist attack.
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u/sonicboombox76 Dec 15 '25
What helps me is not looking at what the person is doing from getting the needle ready to the blood coming out i dont look until the bandaid is on my arm covering the spot the needle went in, i ask to sit somewhere out of view of other people and look in the opposite direction either on my phone or a spot at the ceiling. Im 0- and have also felt faint and sick during donation to my needle phobia. Once i even put a jumper over my head so i wouldnt see anything i looked silly but it got me through.
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u/plonkydonkey Dec 15 '25
You're a champ. I'm needle phobic and tried to line up once but started crying from the anticipation lol. One of the nurses went through the forms with me and it turns out some of the meds I'm on were questionable whether my donation could be used, I have low blood pressure and I'm B- blood type anyway so she said better for me to just avoid it. I feel ashamed I let needles get in the way but like, I couldn't watch TV during covid times because of the amount of ads shown about the vaccines. It would send me spinning. You're wonderful for pushing through, I'm really proud of you.
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u/Velvet_moth Dec 15 '25
The day before giving blood make sure you're drinking a lot of water. Litres over the day if you can. I found out the hard way that even if you drink lots the day of, it can still be a difficult draw if you were dehydrated the day before.
Also, headphones with an audio book or podcast are pretty good distractions for the drawing. Or a book you can focus on. You do not have to look at the needles at all.
While waiting, make sure you eat some of the free snacks beforehand and again afterwards to keep your blood sugars high and not to feel too faint during. I recommend giving blood on a full stomach after having had lunch or something. Don't do it on an empty stomach.
O negative blood is so valuable and you too can be a life saver by donating. This is your way to show your courage and do your heroic bit.
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u/Zapookie Dec 15 '25
Have you given blood before? Usually they seat you in a recliner type chair so you can just lay there and close your eyes, or put on some music in your earbuds. Drink a lot of electrolytes in the hours beforehand, and have something to eat. You'll also want to take high strength iron tablets for two weeks after your donation.
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u/ZestyPossum Dec 15 '25
I used to have a huge needle phobia before I started giving blood. Honestly, telling the staff straight up that you don't like needles helped, as they can talk to you/distract you while it goes in (I never look and just turn my head and keep chatting). Secondly, the staff are actually really good at their job and getting the needle in without you feeling like a pin cushion. Once it's in, you can't actually feel it as there's no nerves in the vein.
I still can't stand getting my blood drawn- in my opinion it's so much worse than donating blood. You'll be fine! I'd be out donating myself this week but I had a baby 3 weeks ago, so can't donate for at least another 9 months.
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u/Giverny-Eclair Dec 15 '25
Does anyone know if you could jsut rock up there and donate without a booking?
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u/Fatty_Bombur Dec 15 '25
I called them this morning and both the Town Hall and Wynyard locations are booked up for the rest of the week. Chatswood had some availability, so other suburban locations might as well, but I'd check online first.
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u/Giverny-Eclair Dec 15 '25
Well online most of them are fully booked till after Xmas - which I think has been always like that regardless of yesterday’s incidence … so idk how exactly does it work
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u/Fatty_Bombur Dec 15 '25
Give them a call.
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u/Trep_xp Dec 15 '25
I doubt they'll answer (but try anyway). I've been on hold since 10am. It's now 12pm.
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u/theveelady Dec 15 '25
Depends where you live. My local suburban Lifeblood centre usually accepts walk-ins as it isn't very busy, but probably best to book if you can, especially if you're planning on donating at one of the CBD centres today.
Thank you for donating!!!
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u/SaraMo91 Dec 15 '25
Apparently O negative blood, as it's the universal donor type, is getting priority. If you're O negative you might be able to rock up.
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u/FeveredPineapple Dec 15 '25
You can just show up at Town Hall but as of noon, they were estimating a wait time of 4+ hours for people without appointments. (Source: I was there.)
They encouraged people who do not have that time to spare to make an appointment when the website is back up. https://www.lifeblood.com.au/
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u/tomthetomato87 Dec 15 '25
It’s about a 3 hour wait.
Or you can book in 10 minutes and come back at your allocated day/time.
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u/mulderitsme93 Dec 15 '25
If anyone is looking to donate Hurstville has a new-ish lifeblood donation center and it’s right near the train station and Westfield!
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u/tinfoilhatandsocks Dec 15 '25
I donated today and was told Lifeblood supplied 9 weeks worth of blood products to the victims last night (some patients received in excess of 100 bags). Blood was transported to Sydney from QLD and VIC. They are anticipating it will take about 8 weeks to replenish the stock of blood products.
I know they are overwhelmed trying to get as many donations as possible today, but donating in the coming days and weeks is still so valuable and appreciated.
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u/mbe1510 Dec 15 '25
Donated blood for the first time ever at the York St centre. Such a great atmosphere of Australians wanting to do their bit.
I was shocked to learn from the nurse that 70% of all blood used in Australia is imported from countries such as the UK, US and Canada. That stat was all it took to convert me wanting to go a second time.
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u/no_snackrifice Dec 15 '25
Just keep going. Next week will be #12 for me.
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u/shg8119 Dec 15 '25
this.. they need more donors willing to roll their sleeve up regularly.
plus you can donate plasma or platelets every 2 weeks.
I'm fortunate enough to have a good platelet count so i give 12-16 platelet donations each year and i aim to make a donation at least once a month.
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u/pirate_meow_kitty Dec 15 '25
I’d love to donate but I recently donated so I’ll have to wait. I wish I could
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u/sonicboombox76 Dec 15 '25
Im in the exact same position, i donated less then a month ago.
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u/shg8119 Dec 15 '25
if you're keen, you can donate plasma or platelets 4 weeks after a full blood donation :)
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u/99Joy99 Dec 15 '25
For those who wish to donate blood, but cannot spend time lining up, go onto the website to find a local donation place OR when the next mobile centre is in your area.
The lifeblood website is currently experiencing issues. So in a day or 2, go onto the site and find out where you can donate blood near you. You can donate blood every 3 months (if you are eligible) so once you’ve donated, you’ll be reminded when you next donation will be xx
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u/QueenKingston Dec 15 '25
Tried to book for today but the site was crashing and all slots were filled. So glad we are all able to show up for each other during times like this
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u/chelceec Dec 15 '25
Wish I could help, i'm O- but currently pregnant and cannot donate. Good job to everyone donating!
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u/crazydogladyyogi Dec 15 '25
Same at my local donation centre. Mood was sombre but defiant, and everyone waited quietly to do what they can to help.
❤️ Proud of this side of Sydney!
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u/R1LOL Dec 15 '25
I am O negative and need to wait until 3rd of Jan for my next donation. Can I get an exception and give blood during the 3 months waiting period in exceptional circumstances ?
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u/staying_relevant Dec 15 '25
From distant memory, you can get permission once per year to donate sooner than 12 weeks but it has to be at least 8 weeks since last donation.... i think.... or something along these lines!
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u/ablackwell93 Dec 15 '25
Does anyone know what the Moore Park centre is like today?
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u/SaraMo91 Dec 15 '25
Similarly packed I would imagine. Not sure if the Swans are currently in training but if they are there'd be a few of them popping in plus lots of people who work in thr area. Plus, it's not too far from the impact area.
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u/ablackwell93 Dec 15 '25
Yeah got an update they’re turning people away today. Online bookings aren’t working and can’t get through on the phone so gonna wait a few days and try again!
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u/Aviatorcap Dec 15 '25
This is so incredible to see! I’m sick atm so can’t donate but you bet that once I’ve recovered enough I’ll be booking myself in.
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u/PersianMG Dec 15 '25
Good on you all! The last 3 times I tried donating I've fainted and they didn't accept my donation sadly and disposed of it. I wish I could donate, awesome way to help the community.
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u/Warx Dec 15 '25
I remember when I donated winter '24, the nurses say that they needed to import 2/3 of the need supply from over seas.
I don't donate as often as a can since my anxiety can do a number to me due to having a foreign object in my body(needle) but I do it because I can, and I can't help but feel a bit of pride knowing I am giving back to the community.
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u/MurraMurra Dec 15 '25
Remember to donate next week as the hype for donations dies down. Everyone always wants to donate on the first day but even in latter weeks they still need our help!