Blood donation drive aims for 3,000 new donors before winter

The regional blood service has launched a drive to recruit 3,000 new donors in Wrenhaven and the Asher Valley before the end of the year. Stocks often come under pressure in winter, when illness, bad weather and the holiday season mean fewer people keep their appointments, and the service wants to build a larger pool of regular donors before then.

Extra donation sessions are being added at the Kestrel Park pavilion, the University of Wrenhaven students' union and the Old Quay community hall, as well as at the permanent donor centre on Bramley Road. Several sessions will run into the evening and on Saturdays to make it easier for people who work during the day.

Who can give

Most healthy adults between 17 and 65 can donate, although there are some restrictions linked to health conditions, recent travel and certain medications. New donors are asked to complete a short questionnaire when they book, and a nurse checks iron levels with a finger-prick test before each donation. The process takes about an hour from arrival, with the donation itself lasting around ten minutes.

A single donation can help more than one patient. Every new donor we sign up now is someone we can call on in January.

Donor services manager Fergus Adair said the service particularly wanted to encourage younger donors, as many regular donors are approaching the upper age limit. He also appealed to people with less common blood types, who are especially needed for certain patients.

Among those who gave blood at the launch session was Lorna Brecken, a primary school teacher from Netherby, whose son received several transfusions after a road accident three years ago. "Somebody I will never meet helped him get better," she said. "This is the least I can do."

People are advised to eat a proper meal and drink plenty of water before donating, and to avoid strenuous exercise for the rest of the day. Anyone unsure whether they are eligible can check with the blood service before booking.