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Blood donors deliver twin delight

Elaine Callo has two perfect reasons to support donor blood drives - her healthy twin daughters.

She needed almost four litres of blood when she haemorrhaged after childbirth 17 months ago and owes Charlotte and Emily's safe delivery and her own recovery to dozens of blood donors.

The toddlers spent time in a special care nursery as newborns but are now in good health.

"The girls were induced five weeks early and the birth itself was fine but I started haemorrhaging after," Ms Callo said.

"The next thing I remember is waking up in intensive care.

"At the time I knew I was given some blood but it was only later that I found out it was 3.7 litres and it made me think how many donors they must have needed to get that much blood.

"It made me feel very grateful to all those people."

The Red Cross Blood Service needs more people to give blood over Easter and next week to prevent a shortage of products vital to treating patients, including people with cancer.

More donors are needed to prevent a shortage of platelets, a product crucial to helping cancer patients through their chemotherapy.

Spokesman Shaun Inguanzo said fewer people gave blood around Easter because they were on holidays or busy with other activities.

Cancer patients were the biggest recipients of blood components in Australia, needing more than 30 per cent of all donated blood to help them through chemotherapy.

"Platelets stop cancer patients from suffering an internal bleed but the problem is they're our shortest-lived product at just five days, and so we need a continual supply," Mr Inguanzo said.

"Cancer treatment, emergency surgery, road trauma and bleeding during childbirth are some of the most common uses for donated blood in Australia."

To make an appointment, call 13 14 95 or visit donateblood.com.au