World Blood Donor Day – 14 June 2016 ”Blood Connects us all”

World Blood Donor Day – 14 June 2016 ”Blood Connects us all”
 
 
To: All Branches
 
Dear Colleagues
 
The theme of this year’s World Blood Donor Day is “blood connects us all”. The day focuses on thanking blood donors for the gift of life and highlights the dimension of ‘sharing’ and ‘connection’ between blood donors and patients. The campaign aims to highlight stories of people who lives have been saved through blood donation, to motivate regular blood donors to continue to give blood and encourages people who are in good health who have never given blood to begin doing so, particularly young people.
 
Facts
108 million blood donations are collected globally, half of these are in high-income countries.

62 Counties collect 100% of their blood supply from voluntary, unpaid blood donors.

Blood donation by 1% of the population can meet a nation’s most basic requiremetns for blood.

Q: Why should I donate blood?
A: Safe blood saves lives and improves health. Blood transfusion is needed for:women with complications of pregnancy, such as ectopic pregnancies and haemorrhage before, during or after childbirth;
children with severe anaemia often resulting from malaria or malnutrition;

people with severe trauma following man-made and natural disasters; and

many complex medical and surgical procedures and cancer patients.

It is also needed for regular transfusions for people with conditions such as thalassaemia and sickle cell disease and is used to make products such as clotting factors for people with haemophilia.
There is a constant need for regular blood supply because blood can be stored for only a limited time before use. Regular blood donations by a sufficient number of healthy people are needed to ensure that safe blood will be available whenever and wherever it is needed.
Blood is the most precious gift that anyone can give to another person — the gift of life. A decision to donate your blood can save a life, or even several if your blood is separated into its components — red cells, platelets and plasma — which can be used individually for patients with specific conditions.
For further information on World Blood Donor Day http://www.who.int/campaigns/world-blood-donor-day/2016/en/
 
Furthermore, to give blood in the UK you can register as a donor at https://www.blood.co.uk/ which provides information on who can give blood, how to become a donor and the donation process.
 
Yours sincerely
 
Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
 
Attachment: Poster
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 371/16 World Blood Donor Day

Poster