GIVE BLOOD, SAVE A LIFE – IT COULD BE YOU
One in four of us will need a blood transfusion sometime in our lives but only 3% of the eligible population of Ireland are active blood donors.
The Irish Blood Transfusion Service is to highlight the need for more blood donors, particularly over the summer months, as part of its Blood 4 Life Week which runs from Monday 13th June to Friday 17th June.
IBTS is aiming to recruit 15,000 new donors this year from all round the country and is particularly encouraging young people to come forward and consider giving blood.
Blood 4 Life week also incorporates World Blood Donor Day on Tuesday June 14th where health organisations worldwide promote the importance of blood donation and safe blood transfusion practices, and thank those people who do give blood and blood components.
The summer months are a challenging time for blood donations, said the IBTS.
In a statement it said: “Summer time is traditionally a challenging time for blood donation as people’s routines are changed, kids are off school, exams are underway, people are on holidays – and sometimes even the weather is nice.
All of these things mean less donors attend blood donation clinics
In addition, People’s haemoglobin (iron equivalent) levels drop during the warmer weather – so more donors are unable to give blood than is normal for the rest of the year.”
Current blood supply levels can be checked at www.giveblood.ie but recent supplies have been as low as 2-3 days for several of the main blood groups.
Recipients of blood can be any age and can include children a day old – for whom a few mls of blood can save their lives.
Irish Blood Transfusion Service aims to hold 7 days blood supply at any one time.
As blood only last 35 days and cannot be frozen, to maintain supplies to Ireland’s hospitals, IBTS needs to collect about 3000 donations a week.
There are lots of tips on giving blood (Bring a friend for moral support!) on the website www.giveblood.ie and information about eligibility to give blood , and where and when clinics are on in your local area
World blood donor day is an opportunity to recognise the incredible contribution blood donors make to Ireland’s health. Without blood donors, the health system would simply stop.
The theme of this year’s World Blood Donor Day is ‘Blood connects us all’ – and indeed 1 in 4 of us will require a blood transfusion at some time in our lives, while only 3% of Ireland’s eligible population are blood donors.
What can I do
– Check our website www.giveblood.ie to see whether you are eligible to give blood (“Can I give blood”)
– See what clinics are on near you in the next 13 weeks (“Where to give blood”)
– If there are no clinics near you in the near future, then “Register your interest” and we will contact you when a clinic is organised for your locality
– Encourage others to give blood
– Call 1850 731 137 if you need more information
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