Keen to give, blood donors overwhelm Red Cross bank

Some had appointments, others arrived unannounced - unable to get through on the phone but desperate to donate.

Such was the public desire to give blood following the devastating bushfires that the Australian Red Cross Blood Service's acting chief executive, Pip Hetzel, yesterday asked Victorians to stagger their donations over the coming weeks and months.

"It's been overwhelming," she said. "Our resources are stretched ...it has been the greatest interest we have had to a single event in the history of the blood service."

Dr Hetzel said more than 6000 people made online pledges to donate blood yesterday morning alone. "The support we're seeing is fantastic," she said.

But with ample stocks and blood's limited shelf life, she said the community could best help by registering online. Staff would then be in touch to make an appointment.

"Giving a blood donation can save up to three lives," Dr Hetzel said.

Some donors, such as Dharmasiri Jayasinghe, 51, were regulars. A team leader at Toyota, Mr Jayasinghe made his 39th visit to the blood bank yesterday. Others, moved by the plight of bushfire survivors, were giving blood for the first time.

Barry and Julie Main said they wished they had come sooner. The Donvale couple, like Meg Orton from Brunswick who spoke to The Age as her 470millilitre blood bag filled, vowed to become regular donors.