World Blood Donor Day 2025 will be celebrated today, and the Cook Islands Red Cross Society is calling on the public to join the global effort to ‘Give Hope’ through blood donation.

In line with this year’s theme, “Join Us in Giving Hope,” the Red Cross is hosting an information tent outside the Bank of the Cook Islands (BCI), starting this morning until 2pm, to raise awareness about the importance of donating blood.

Among the many advocates for blood donation is Julz Westrupp, a renowned Cook Islands touch rugby representative since 2003.

A coach, mentor and fitness enthusiast, Westrupp has been a long-time blood donor and is passionate about encouraging others to do the same.

“The bottom line is to help save a life. Blood is definitely something no one can live without. I am a passionate blood donor because it makes me feel helpful to those in need,” Westrupp said.

“We should all want to help save a life. Death is hard to deal with. If we can stop that from happening to anyone, we’ve made this world a better place.”

Between June 14, 2024, and June 12, 2025, a total of 176 donors gave blood in the Cook Islands.

Of those, some donated twice, while others, especially those with rare blood types, donated once or for the first time.

Altogether, 264 units of blood were collected, equating to approximately 118 to 124 litres of blood.

On average, female donors give around 450 millilitre per session, while male donors give about 470 ml.

Currently, there are about 300 registered blood donors in Rarotonga, though this number varies due to people moving away or changes in donor eligibility, according to Fine Tu’itupou-Arnold, secretary general of the Cook Islands Red Cross Society.

Tu’itupou-Arnold emphasised the critical role of blood in treating patients during surgeries, trauma cases, childbirth complications, cancer treatments and for those with chronic illnesses or blood disorders.

“One donation can save up to three lives,” she said. “That’s because a single donation is providing red cells, platelets and plasma to those in urgent need.”

The most common blood types in the Cook Islands are generally “O” positive and “A” positive, consistent with Pacific Island populations. A full blood-type breakdown is currently being compiled.

Blood donations benefit a wide range of patients: accident victims, surgical patients, mothers experiencing complications during childbirth, people with anaemia or blood disorders like thalassemia, cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, emergency and disaster situations.

Tu’itupou-Arnold reassured the public that blood donation is completely safe.

All procedures are conducted under professional medical supervision, using sterile, single-use equipment.

Donors are screened to ensure they are healthy enough to donate, and every unit of blood is rigorously tested for infectious diseases including HIV, hepatitis B and C, and syphilis.

“We follow international safety standards to protect both the donor and the recipient,” Tu’itupou-Arnold said.  

The precautions include thorough donor eligibility screening, use of disposable, sterile equipment, post-donation care and observation, and proper blood testing, storage and handling.

Public awareness campaigns play a key role in dispelling myths and promoting voluntary, regular blood donations.

The Cook Islands Red Cross Society urges more people to consider blood donation, not just as a medical necessity, but as a civic duty and a life-saving act of kindness.

“Giving blood is one of the simplest yet most powerful ways to help our community,” Tu’itupou-Arnold said.

“On World Blood Donor Day, we celebrate donors and invite others to be part of this life-saving mission.”