Giving blood
Chocolates, flowers and DVDs all have their place but, when it comes to the ultimate feel-good gift, Lesley Dobson says giving blood is in a league of its own. And, best of all, it won’t cost you a thing…
Modern technology may have advanced beyond all expectation in recent years, but medical science is yet to come up with a replacement for blood. It’s something our hospitals use on a regular basis and NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) needs 7,000 units a day to keep blood banks from going into the red. Each donated unit measures 470ml, or just under a pint, so we’re talking about significant volumes.
“When you give blood, it goes to someone who needs it and every donation is vital,” says Zeeshan Asghar at NHSBT. “We rely on the generosity of our donors – and we know that giving something so important to someone else makes them feel good.”
You can make a difference
There’s a constant need for more volunteers to give just a little bit of themselves to help others. Remarkably, only four per cent of those eligible are active blood donors, meaning that the rest of us are reliant on a small minority.
This is why we’re calling on Benenden Healthcare members, their families and friends, to sign up to give blood. Register as a donor, give blood and, in return, you’ll get that amazing feeling of knowing you have helped someone else – that you’ve perhaps even saved a life.
Naturally, we wouldn’t ask members to do anything we weren’t prepared to do ourselves. Benenden Healthcare Society’s Emily Simpson explains how she came to organise a series of blood drives at the Society’s head office in York.
“I had the idea to do blood donation events at work after I realised that other local organisations were regularly donating at the workplace,” says Emily. “We’ve had three successful donation days so far and, because we can guarantee about 30 donations a session, the NHS blood service sends a fully equipped blood van, which parks in our staff car park. A fantastic 44 per cent of the available staff at our office have donated, so we’ve done very well!”
Katie Dorr, who until recently worked in the marketing department, has a very special reason for asking members to join the campaign. She has lupus, an autoimmune condition which affects the way her blood clots. “Having had several blood transfusions, I can tell you how worthwhile it is,” says Katie. “I know I wouldn’t be here without blood donors.”
How your blood donations are used
It’s very unusual for whole blood to be used and this really happens only when a patient has severe blood loss. The majority of donated blood (95 per cent) is processed into its main components. These are red cells, platelets and plasma. Red cells last for 35 days, and platelets last for only five days, so keeping a regular supply of blood stocks is vital. You can see the level of current blood stocks for yourself online at the NHSBT website.
• Red cells are often used when treating anaemia, in cases where people have rheumatoid arthritis, cancer and sickle cell disease. They are also used to replace lost red cells following an accident, after surgery or childbirth
• Platelets can be enormously helpful to patients following bone marrow failure, and after transplant and chemotherapy treatments. They are also used for people with leukaemia
• “Fresh frozen” plasma is used during heart surgery, after loss of blood in childbirth and also to replace clotting elements following large transfusions.
The four main blood groups
There are four main blood groups – O, A, B and AB. Group O is the most common type and so is the one that’s most in demand. You will also be either RhD positive (85 per cent of the population) or RhD negative (i.e. the remaining 15 per cent of the population).
If you have O negative blood (group O, RhD negative), you are what is known as a universal donor. This means that anyone who is RhD positive, regardless of whether they have group O, A, B or AB blood, can receive your blood. So don’t keep it all to yourself – call or go online and register to be a donor.
Giving blood in 3 easy steps
If you’re interested in giving blood, you should be able to donate if you are aged 17 to 65 (for your first donation), in good health and at least 7st 12lb. Some people can’t give blood, for various reasons. They may be taking, or have just taken, a course of antibiotics, or have had a serious illness in the past.
NHSBT would like more donors from black and ethnic minority communities, as their blood can be especially beneficial for people being treated for sickle cell anaemia and thalassaemia, for example. Currently, less than three per cent of blood donors come from these backgrounds.
1. Find out if you’re eligible to become a blood donor by calling the 24-hour donor helpline on 0300 123 2323.
2. Register your interest in becoming a donor by calling 0300 123 2323 or completing the online form (or you can simply register when you attend a local session).
3. Locate a session near you by calling the donor helpline, or doing a postcode search at online. Booking a time slot is a good idea to save on waiting time.
This article first appeared in issue 12 of benhealth, the magazine for Benenden Healthcare members.
