PEOPLE in Redditch are being urged to make a New Year’s resolution with a difference – To give blood in 2017 and help save lives.
A spokesperson for NHS Blood and Transplant said: “By giving up just one hour of your time you could save or improve up to three lives. Proud (43 per cent), helpful (42 per cent) and happy (38 per cent) are the top three words people chose to describe how they feel after their most recent donation.”
Their comments follow a survey which highlighted the confusion and myths about who is able to donate.
Of the 2,126 adults surveyed, 20 per cent believed it was true that having a tattoo would prevent them from donating, 16 per cent felt the same about piercings, 15 per cent believed you can’t donate if you smoke and three per cent thought vegetarians wouldn’t be able to donate.
“We urge potential donors to check the donation criteria on the blood.co.uk website. While people currently need to wait four months after a new tattoo or piercing, there are no specific criteria preventing smokers or vegetarians from donating. Many people who believe they can’t donate, may discover they can,” they said.
“More than half of our current blood donors are aged over 45 so it’s especially important we recruit younger people to donate blood now and in the years to come. By becoming a blood donor you can help ensure that patients have access to the blood they need, when they need it.”
NHS Blood and Transplant needs donors from all blood groups and communities but is particularly looking for new donors from black and Asian communities, and donors with the universal blood group O negative.
It’s quick and easy to register to become a blood donor, visit www.blood.co.uk, download a give blood app, search ‘NHSGiveBlood’ in the app store or contact 0300 123 23 23. You can donate platelets at your nearest donor centre. If you already give blood, ask about platelet donation at your next appointment.
