In the lead up to the flu season, the need for blood donors to come forward is even more critical, says the National Blood Service. You can give blood in December in Bitterne Park.

Blood is used for a whole host of different treatments, not just in accident and emergency. It is used to treat cancer and leukaemia, during childbirth and neo-natal procedures, to treat burns victims and during scheduled surgery.

The National Blood Service needs to collect 7,000 units of blood every single day, in order to meet the demand from hospitals. This demand is constant, and needs to be met all the time. It’s a bit like a sink. If you pull the plug but leave the tap running, you can keep the water level the same. But if you begin to close the tap, the water level will drop.

In the lead up to the flu season, the need for blood donors to come forward is even more critical. This is because it is not possible to give blood when you have the flu. For this reason, many regular blood donors may be unable to give (closing the tap), and blood stocks will begin to decline.

In preparation for this, the National Blood Service is building up its blood stocks, to ensure that there is adequate supply for any possible reduction in donations, during the flu season.

So now, more than ever, the National Blood Service (and the thousand of patients who rely on blood donations to save and improve their lives), need you to come forward and give that blood that you’ve always meant to give, to see us through this time.

There are many ways to go about giving blood. To find your local session and book an appointment, please call 0300 123 23 23 or visit http://www.blood.co.uk.

You can give blood from the age of 17 to 66 (or even longer if you are a regular donor) and you can still give blood if you drink or smoke.

When you give blood you are helping to save a life. Please don’t leave it to someone else.

In addition, if you want to enrol or speak to someone in person about donating, the National Blood Service will be at the local Fun Day on Saturday September 12 on Freemantle Common, Bitterne (Opposite Peartree Avenue) between 11 — 3 pm.


You can give blood at:

BITTERNE PARK SCHOOL
NEW GYM
BITTERNE PARK SCHOOL
DIMOND ROAD
SOUTHAMPTON
SO18 1BU

Monday 07 Dec 2009
13:30 to 15:25 and 16:30 to 18:45 
 
Ring 0300 123 23 23 to book an appointment.
The earlier people book appointments the easier it is to manage.