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Every minute of the day someone somewhere needs blood. They might need blood to help them fight serious diseases like cancer. That’s why we need you to give blood up to three times a year if you can. When you give blood you’ll be doing one of the most amazing things anybody could dream of… potentially saving a life!
Components extracted from blood, such as plasma can play a key role in a range of procedures such as when new treatments are developed for cancer. More hospitals throughout the country need more blood all year round. Two and a half million blood donations are needed to cover all of England and Wales but only 5% of the UK population who are eligible to give blood currently do so. All blood types are needed not just rare ones. In fact, the commoner the blood type the more it is needed. So if your blood is one of the most common types – group O for example, you can be sure that by donating regularly, up to 3 times a year, you are doing something amazing!
As you probably know, your blood group is inherited from your parents. Throughout our lives our blood type remains the same (this fact excludes recipients of bone marrow donation who will inherit the blood type of their donor) and it’s important that we all have access to the right type when we need it most. In some cases this could mean the difference between life and death.
When you become a blood donor you are grouped as Group O, Group A or Group AB and your blood donor certificate book also tells you whether you are Rh (Rhesus) D negative or positive. However, there are many more blood groups (about 23) which can be identified. When we look at these we realise that the combinations are endless and that no two people (except identical twins) will have the exact same blood type.
As a rule, as long as you are in good health you can become a regular blood donor. And even if there are health reasons why you can’t actually give blood, you can still help do something amazing by encouraging your family and friends to donate. Very often blood from the different ethnic groups can be different, because the distribution of blood groups varies throughout the world. For example 85% of Europeans are Rh (Rhesus) D Positive, about 95% of West Africans are RH D Positive but among the Chinese the figure is 100%. Group B is fairly uncommon in Europeans – 14%, but 35% of Chinese have this group.
More people of all Ethnic Minority descent need to step forward as blood donors and help to meet the needs of patients from these backgrounds. Providing you fall between the ages of 17 and 65, fit and healthy, then you can do your bit and give blood. There are no risks involved as new needles are used for each donor and the donated blood is quickly replaced by your body.
While almost anyone can give blood, currently only 4% of the eligible population do.
Hospitals need 8,000 blood donations every day.
To donate blood you must be at least 7st 12Ibs (50kg)
You can donate blood up to 3 times a year
Blood Facts
Malaria – The National Blood Service has a malaria antibody test so that anyone who has visited a malarious area of the world, or who has had malaria can come and donate blood 6 months after their return to the UK. Thalassaemia major is an inherited blood disorder prevalent in Asian, Middle Eastern and some Mediterranean communities. Sufferers cannot produce enough red cells and require lifelong monthly blood transfusions. Thalassaemia trait on its own does not prevent you from giving blood or from joining the bone marrow register.
Sickle Cell Anaemia is an inherited blood disorder prevalent in the African and Caribbean communities. The red blood cells can become sickle shaped. The sickle-shaped cells don’t move easily through blood. The clumps of sickle cells block blood flow in the blood vessels that lead to the limbs and organs. This can cause pain, serious infections and organ damage. Sickle cell trait on its own does not prevent you from giving blood or from joining the bone marrow register.
25% of Asians are blood group B where as only 9% of West Europeans share this group.
Only 1% of blood donors are of Asian descent
20% of Africans and African Caribbean’s are blood group B where as only 9% of West Europeans share this group.
Less than 1% of blood donors are of African or Caribbean descent
25% of the South-East Asians are blood group B whereas only 9% of West Europeans share this group. 10% of the South-east Asian population have the rarest blood group which is AB, compared to only 4% of the UK population.
Less than 1% of blood donors are of South-East Asian descent.
“Blood donors saved our lives”
Sharonjeet is of Asian descent. She was just 8 months of age when her parents noticed she had a persistent high temperature and no appetite. She was admitted to hospital and diagnosed with a very rare blood disorder, a fast acting fatal childhood disease. Sharonjeet underwent a bone marrow transplant and a year of chemotherapy before a non-related bone marrow match was found and she was cured – thanks to blood and bone marrow donors. Daniel De-Gale was of African Caribbean descent. He was 6 years of age when diagnosed with a childhood form of Leukaemia. A bone marrow transplant along with regular blood transfusions saved his life. Daniel was 21 years of age and attending University studying Sports Therapy, when he passed away in Oct 2008 from an unrelated Medical complication.
Kitty is of South East Asian descent. She has chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML), which is a cancer of the blood. A bone marrow transplant supported with blood transfusions is the only chance of a Long-term cure.
How do I register via the ACLT to become a blood donor?
When you 1st arrive at one of our awareness drives you will be given a blood donation application form and general literature about the donation process. You will be asked to complete the application form. On completion we will ask you to watch a powerpoint presentation about:
The ACLT and our relationship with the National Blood Service
Why is blood donation so important?
The breakdown of ethnic minority numbers registering as blood donors
The simple donation procedure
The National Blood Service will send in the post an appointment date and time for you to attend a blood recruitment session within the coming weeks. On your arrival they will confirm your appointment by asking for your name, address and date of birth. This information is entered on the NBS computerised donor database, which is utilised to send invitation letters to future donor sessions. All information relating to you and your blood donation(s) is stored securely on this database.
Each time you volunteer to give blood you will be asked about specific aspects of your medical history and asked to fill in a health check questionnaire. The NBS will routinely take a small drop of blood from your finger to make sure you are not anaemic (i.e. short of iron). After the medical screening process, you will be shown to one of the beds. A specially trained member of staff will insert a needle which is attached to a blood bag into your arm. You may if you wish have a local anaesthetic applied before the needle is inserted.
Your blood will then flow through the needle into the blood bag which is kept out of sight below the level of the bed. A member of the team will keep a close eye on you and on the blood bag to make sure all is well. Most people fill the bag in 5 to 10 minutes. It holds about 470ml (just under a pint). You will then be advised to rest for a short period to make sure you have fully recovered before going to the refreshment area where you will be offered a drink and biscuits.
That’s it! You have donated blood and offered the ‘Gift of Life’.
Becoming a blood donor really is simple. To register you must fall between the ages of 17 to 65. Fit and healthy. If when registering as a blood donor with the NBS you have never registered with any organisation as a bone marrow/stem cell donor and would lile to do so please ask them to register you on the British Bone Marrow Registry at the same time.
To contact the National Blood Service call 0300 123 2323 and quote reference 'R20 - ACLT'
