The survey also revealed that 36 per cent of respondents have received blood themselves or know friends or family members who have received blood, underlining the importance of donated blood.
Blood Donors Save the Day, the message for yesterday's World Blood Donor Day is driven by a need to have more people saving at least one day a year to donate blood. Turnover in donor availability and eligibility means 20,000 people drop off the donor database each year, so another 20,000 new donors are needed to take their place.
A small and dedicated group of regular donors are responsible for providing the 150,000 units of blood our health services need each year.
For 82 per cent of them, donations were made by saving the day - either by planning in advance themselves or being contacted by the Blood Service.
In contrast, one third of non-donors said the main reason for not donating was because they had "just never got around to it".
Although issues around transport, accessibility and opening hours are also cited in the survey as potential barriers, the Blood Service can assist people to manage these factors.
During World Blood Donor Day the Blood Service is urging people who want to donate to save a day in the year ahead to do so.
More that half of respondents said they were likely to donate in the next six months once they learnt so few people donate blood, that blood lasts only 35 days and that it's needed for cancer treatments, babies and pregnant women.
Because donated blood only last 35 days, supplies to blood banks are carefully managed.
People who save a day to donate help ensure supplies are maintained for patients in need.
More people who save a day to donate will reduce the demands on donors and also expand the database of blood types, ensuring blood is available for specific patients and for specialised medical treatments and emergencies.
Saving the day is a simple and effective way to ensure that peoples' desire to donate is acted on.
What people didn't know:
* 61 per cent didn't know that blood only lasts 35 days
* 91 per cent didn't know that only 4 per cent of people donate regularly
* 92 per cent didn't know that 7 per cent of blood is used by pregnant women and babies
* 92 per cent didn't know that 25 per cent of blood is used for cancer treatments
Visit www.nzblood.co.nz or phone 0800 GIVE BLOOD for more information.
