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National Blood Service to Host World Blood Donor Day 2005, UK

Main Category: Public Health

Article Date: 08 Jun 2005

This year's World Blood Donor Day (WBDD) is to be hosted by the National Blood Service (NBS) on June 14, a date that commemorates the birth of Karl Landsteiner, who discovered the ABO blood group system. The day will provide an opportunity for blood services across the globe to collectively recognise and thank their donors for their support.

Numerous international and national celebrities will be lending their support to launch of WBDD in London this year. WBDD is backed and supported by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

WBDD 2005 will have a celebration theme, "Celebrating the gift of blood", and people will be encouraged to attend events across England, as well as around the world. The events will highlight emotive stories of people whose lives have been touched by blood.

Mike Fogden, Chairman of the NBS, said: "WBDD provides a splendid opportunity to raise awareness of the need for blood and blood donors. The NBS is honoured to host this event."

The overwhelming majority of the world's population do not have access to safe blood. Over 80 million units of blood are donated every year around the world, but only 38% is collected in developing countries where 82% of the global population live. WBDD will help raise awareness of the issues that these countries face.

The need for blood is universal and many people know of someone who has either needed a blood transfusion or required blood for other procedures, such as cancer treatment. Blood in the UK is generously donated by voluntary donors from the public. The NBS needs to collect 8,000 donations of blood every day across England and north Wales in order to make sure patients get the treatments they need. Last year the NBS collected over 2.3 million donations from some 1.3 million donors and many lives were improved or saved due to these donations.

The demand for blood never stops. Indeed, the NBS constantly needs people to come forward and give blood regularly. If you are aged between 17 - 60 years of age (17 -70 for regular donors), in general good health and weigh over 50kg, you could give blood - you may just save someone's life! For further information on how to become a blood donor, please call the National Donor Helpline on 0845 7 711 711 or log onto http://www.blood.co.uk.

For further information contact Matt Thompson or James Wright at Sinclair Mason on T. 0870 606 0960 or email thompsonm@sinclairmason.com or jamesw@sinclairmason.com.

1. World Blood Donor Day

The World Blood Donor Day logo is available on request. It would very useful if you could print it with any article to further increase awareness of this important day.

World Blood Donor Day builds on the success of World Health Day 2000 which was devoted to the theme 'Blood Saves Lives. Safe Blood Starts With Me.' The enthusiasm and energy with which this day was celebrated indicated that there would be a positive response to an opportunity to give thanks to the millions of people who give the precious gift of life. It also builds on International Blood Donor Day organised annually by the International Federation of Blood Donor Organisations since 1995.

While it is hoped that World Blood Donor Day will create wider awareness of the importance of voluntary blood donation and encourage more people to become regular blood donors, the purpose is not to attract a big influx of new donors on 14 June. Rather, it is designed to celebrate and thank those individuals who voluntarily donate their blood without any reward, except the knowledge that they have helped to save lives, particularly those who give blood on a regular basis two, three times each year. It is our hope that a new generation of blood donors will follow their example, providing the safest blood possible for use wherever and whenever it is needed to save life.

The day will also provide an opportunity to highlight the fact that voluntary non-remunerated blood donors are the foundation of a safe blood supply because they are associated with significantly lower levels of infections that can be transmitted by transfusion, including HIV and hepatitis viruses. Screening for transfusion-transmissible infections is essential, but the safest donations come from the safest donors.

14 June has been selected as World Blood Donor Day by three major organisations working for voluntary non-remunerated blood donation: the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Federation of Blood Donor Organisations and the International Society of Blood Transfusion. These organisations have been joined by the World Health Organisation, which is co-sponsoring the event. Between them, they represent 192 Member States, 181 national Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, 50 national voluntary blood donor organisations and blood transfusion specialists throughout the world.

2. National Blood Service

-- The NBS is responsible for collecting blood in England and north Wales " Every day, the NBS needs to collect up to 8,000 donations of blood.

-- Only 6% of the eligible population are blood donors.

-- One donation could help save more than one life.

-- Donors can give blood three times per year.

-- Blood donors are always needed. Anyone aged between 17 - 60 years of age, in general good health and who weighs over 50kg could become a blood donor by calling the National Donor Helpline on 0845 7 711 711.

-- An average district general hospital will use between 550 - 750 units of blood a month that is 6600 - 9000 units a year. A large hospital will use 1500 - 2500 units a month that is 18,000 - 30,000 units a year.

-- There are 4 main blood groups; O, A, B and AB. Group O is the most common and therefore the most in demand. Over 95 per cent of the blood collected is processed into its main components - red cells, platelets and plasma. A regular supply of blood is vital - red cells last only 35 days and platelets only 5 days.

Matt Thompson, Account Executive
Sinclair Mason (Leeds & London)
T: 0870 606 0960
F: 0113 237 0888
http://www.sinclairmason.com *IPR Excellence Award Winner 2003*

http://www.blood.co.uk

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