Blood donations need to rise ahead of Olympics Games and Diamond Jubilee

Blood donations desperately need to increase by 30 per cent ahead of the Queen’s Jubilee and the Olympic Games this summer, the NHS has said.

The NHS has warned regular donors are more likely to miss appointments more when big events take place.
As well as the Diamond Jubilee and London Games, Wimbledon and the European Championships also take place this summer, meaning donors’ normal routines are bound to be put on hold.
The Olympics and Paralympics are expected to bring an extra 1.2million visitors to the UK and tourists from overseas will also put pressure on certain blood groups that are more common in other countries.
Britons with O positive and O negative blood types are particularly in demand.

First-time donors are being encouraged to give blood as additional appointments are created and opening hours extended in a bid to give donors more flexibility.
Jon Latham, spokesman for NHS Blood and Transplant, said: ‘This year we have a unique situation and need the public’s help to counterbalance the inevitable dip in donations as people celebrate a memorable summer for the country.
‘We need to adjust the mix of stocks so we are well prepared as a responsible host for these exciting events.’

He told the BBC: ‘Every unit of blood saves or improves the life of three people. We obviously want to make sure everyone enjoys the Games, and want to make sure that if there are any accidents we have the blood supplies to help them recover quickly.’
Hospitals in England and North Wales need 7,000 units of blood every day and yet just four per cent of people who could donate blood actually do so.
Because blood decomposes quickly, with red blood cells and platelets lasting 35 and seven days respectively, supplies have to be constantly replenished.

Source:Metro.co.uk

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