My good deed for the day

whitewing

I thought I'd share this email I got through blood.co.uk. I have given over 25 donations (which isn't actually that many compared to my age). I hope someone else can be inspired to become a regular blood donor. (I know some people are unable to give blood, but I hope you can cheer us on from the sidelines).

Did you know that we supply hospitals with around 7,000 units of blood every day? Or that, in order to continue to meet that demand, we must recruit nearly 200,000 new donors every year?

As a valued blood donor yourself, there’s a good chance that you did know – but we’re willing to bet that many of your friends or colleagues don’t!

That’s why this year, as part of our National Blood Week celebrations, we’re asking donors to share these facts with anyone they know who might be interested in blood donation, to help us continue to recruit the new donors we need. Facts like:

each unit of blood donated is split into its constituent parts, and can save up to three lives
the number of regular blood donors has fallen by 23% over the past decade
the minimum age for blood donation is 17 years (650,000 people will turn 17 in the next 12 months!)
So if you do know someone who you think might be interested in giving blood, please... tell them to visit us at https://www.blood.co.uk.

Thanks again for your continued commitment,

Jonathan Latham,
Assistant Director, Blood Donation

msb5262

Well done you - this is a great idea. I signed up to give blood as soon as I turned 17 and donated regularly for some years.
Unfortunately these days I'm not able to give blood (I have some unusual antibodies which developed after my second child was born) but would love to encourage anyone who can give blood to do so. My granddad had lung cancer and having a blood transfusion was the one treatment which really made him feel better for quite a while towards the end of his life, so thank you on his behalf to blood donors everywhere.
MsB

thatlemming

Thanks for this. I think I'm actually over 50kg for the first time ever so I can actually donate now, good reminder!

WantToBeSE

I have an appointment to give blood for the first time on Monday- i am quite nervous as i always get light headed when having blood taken. Its strange, because i am not bothered by needles or blood at all!

Well done to you whitewing

Tiglath

Well done - I was a donor until I developed thyroid problems. They don't want me at the moment but I live in hope they'll let me back in at some point

torbrex

I was a regular platelet donor until ill health brought on by the onset of diabetes stopped me donating a few years ago.
I am now on insulin injections so although my health has improved I will not be able to return to donating again

I had donated over 280 times and was hoping to break the 300 barrier but I can be satisfied that I was able to go regularly over the years starting as a whole blood donor when I was 18 and joining the platelet band when I was about 37.

I never did get the call to donate bone marrow in spite of being on the panel since 1992 so its easy to see how difficult it is for them to match donors and recipients.

catkins

I have given blood for about 30 years now although I still can't look!

I read the other day that only 4% of the population give which I think is very sad. None of us know if we will ever need a blood transfusion so unless there is a reason you can't give then I think we all should.

SmallL

I'd love to give blood but the unit is in the centre of town and i have to walk 10 mins before getting a tram to town, so im worried about if i feel unwell after il have to cough up for a taxi!
I'm probably going to call in on monday to check my height/weight and medications are fine! Im short, light and take a concoction of medicines so they could refuse me on most counts!

Saturnalia

My mum is a regular donor. Like Torbrex, I'm diabetic & on insulin so I can't give blood, which is a shame as it's something I would certainly do if I were able to.

Lots of respect to all the blood givers. We never know if we'll need their help one day.

torbrex

SmallL wrote: »

I'd love to give blood but the unit is in the centre of town and i have to walk 10 mins before getting a tram to town, so im worried about if i feel unwell after il have to cough up for a taxi!
I'm probably going to call in on monday to check my height/weight and medications are fine! Im short, light and take a concoction of medicines so they could refuse me on most counts!

It was a 60 mile round trip for me to go to the centre to donate the platelets.
When I first started going there, I worked not far away so just dropped in either on the way home from nightshift or with permission from my manager when on days. After I changed jobs and was working near to home, I then had to make time for the trip, I did this by doing extra hours the day before and after, it was a little awkward but I managed, changing jobs again meant different arrangements but with a company car at least transport was paid for even if the company didn't know it

DUKE

Well done Jon! For years I wanted to be a blood donor but couldn't because I was only 7 & a half stone. When I finally hit the 8 stone mark I became ill & had chemo ... They have great difficulty getting blood out of me now, oh & I suddenly developed a great fear of needles. Keep at it folks you're doing a great job!