This week Enfield Council is calling on residents to do something amazing and help save a life for World Blood Donors Day on Tuesday 14 June.
Cllr Krystle Fonyonga, Enfield Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Safety & Public Health, is urging fit and healthy people aged between 17 and 70 to become regular donors.
She said: “It is so easy for a fit, healthy person to donate a pint of blood to help save a life to help save lives.
“Every day thousands of pints of blood are used to treat patients across the United Kingdom. The blood donated is needed to save the lives of seriously ill people, during complex surgery, child birth, the treatment of road crash victims, and a wide variety of operations.
“Each year the National Health Service in England needs 200,000 new donors just to meet the demand for blood, and if you are fit and well please do think about becoming one of them.
“Giving blood is a precious gift that most people will be able to do, and the blood is easily replenished in a few days after a donation.”
People can give blood if they are:
• are fit and healthy
• weigh over 7 stone 12 lbs (50kg)
• are aged between 17 and 66 (or 70 if they have given blood before)
• are over 70 and have given blood in the last two years
Men can give blood every three months and women every four months.
For more information about giving blood, contact: 0300 1232323 or visit www.blood.co.uk to book an appointment.
Some dates and venues of donor sessions coming soon:
19 June: Trinity-at-Bowes Church, Palmerston Road, N22
21 July: Edmonton Angel Community Centre, Raynham Road N9
11 August : Winchmore Hill Parish Church of St Paul N21 1JA
12 August: Enfield United Reform Church, 25 Main Avenue EN1
Notes to editors
• Despite about 92 million yearly blood donations worldwide, safe blood is constantly in high demand, especially in developing countries.
• World Blood Donor Day falls on the birthday of Karl Landsteiner (14 June 1868). He created the ABO blood group system, which is still used today to ensure the safety of blood transfusions
Check you are able to give blood
Common eligibility questions include:
• Whether you are receiving treatment for specific conditions or illnesses, including cancer
• Whether you are taking medication
• Whether you have travelled to certain countries outside of the UK
• If you have a new tattoo
• Whether you are pregnant
• If you have or have had certain illnesses
• If you have received blood, blood products or organs recently
Women under 20 – check if you can give blood
Women under 20, those weighing less than 10st 3lb or 65kg and those who are under 5′ 6” or 168cm tall will need to have their blood volume estimated before they are allowed to give blood.