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National Blood Week 8-14th June

Hello my fellow warrior's, I hope you are all having a good week.

 As this week marks National Blood Week and World Blood Day (14th June) I wanted to do a wee blog post. I was hoping to get this blog post up on Monday but circumstances this week have unfortunately been against me.

 I wanted to share with you answers to questions and facts on blood donation in the hope that it might inspire yourself, members of your family or friends to donate. 


SOME FACTS
  1. Around 108 million units of donated blood are collected globally every year.
  2. Over 6,000 donations are needed in England and Wales each day and over 5000 donations are needed each week in Scotland
  3. Only 4% of adults donate blood in England and Wales, 5% in Scotland
  4. Over 25% of people in England and Wales require a blood transfusion at least once in their life. 
  5. There are 4 different blood groups A, B, AB and O, each of these can be positive or negative
  6. There is usually less than a week's supply of blood in the UK's blood banks at any one time
  7. O negative is the universal donor of red blood cells which means it can be given to any person despite them having a different blood group
  8. Your blood has 4 components red cells, white cells, plasma and platelets
  9. Platelets only have a shelf life if 7 days while red cells has a shelf life of 35 days


SOME QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Who requires blood? It's not just people who have been involved in serious accidents that require a blood transfusion there is a number of people with long term medical conditions who also need blood transfusions. 

How old do I have to be to donate? The minimum age is 17 and the maxium age for a new donor is 66 but if you have donated before then the maxium age is pushed up to 70

How much people will my donation help? One of your blood donations will help up to 3 people.

I have tattoos, can I still donate? 
Yes you can donate but you cannot donate blood until 12 months after you get your last tattoo.



If you would like to donate your blood and live in the UK or Ireland then get in touch with with the following services. 

Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service
Telephone Number: 0845 90 90 999
Website: www.scotblood.co.uk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/givebloodforscotland
Twitter: @givebloodscot

 Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service
Telephone Number: 028 9032 1414
Website: www.nibts.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/givebloodni
Twitter: @GiveBloodNI

 NHS Blood and Transplant (England and Wales)
Telephone Number: 0300 123 23 23
Website: www.blood.co.uk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/NHSBlood
Twitter: @GiveBloodNHS

 Irish Blood Transfusion Service
Telephone Number: Locall 1850 731 137
Website: www.giveblood.ie
Facebook: www.facebook.com/giveblood
Twitter: @Giveblood_ie
That is nearly it for today but before I go on behalf of myself and other transfusion patients I would like to say thank you very much for donating because without your kind donation a lot of us wouldn't be alive today. x



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