Bushfire victims 'need more blood'

The number of Australians pledging to donate blood has skyrocketed since Victoria's Black Saturday bushfires.

More than 271,000 people have registered with the Red Cross Blood Service in the two weeks following the February 7 disaster.

The rush to donate is a huge boost for the Red Cross, which takes in around 70,000 new registrations in a normal February and had stocks at critical levels over the Christmas period, spokesman Nicholas McGowan said.

"The great challenge for us has been keeping up. Our telephone systems have struggled," he told ninemsn.

"With this outpouring of goodwill we have tremendous stocks so we can call on this list of people when we need to."

Red Cross acting chief executive Pip Hetzel explained burns injuries require blood products including plasma, platelets, red cells and albumin to replace lost protein and prevent fluid loss.

"When you've lost a lot of skin there's a lot of weeping and they help to replace protein lost," Dr Hetzel said.

"Albumin helps fluid to stay inside the veins and stops it going into the tissues."

Former rural firefighter John Heffernan, from southern NSW, is one burns victim who has required ongoing treatment since burning 85 percent of his body while fighting bushfires on New Year’s Day in 2006.

In the eight months that followed, Mr Heffernan required 53 litres of red blood cells and blood products to treat his injuries.

And, three years later, he continues to require blood transfusions.

"Long after this time has passed, there will be people still needing blood that dates back to Black Saturday," Mr McGowan said.

Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon today announced 2009 as Year of the Blood Donor.

The Red Cross hopes to recruit an extra 100,000 regular donors across Australia this year.