Blood transfusion clinics being held in Dundalk next week

THE Irish Blood Transfusion Service will be hosting donor clinics in Dundalk from Sunday April, 9th through to 13th.

One in four people will need a blood transfusion at some point in their lives. Sometimes it may be for a routine surgical procedure such as a hip operation. Other times it may be for someone recovering from a road traffic accident, major surgery such as a heart bypass or perhaps a transfusion is needed to enable a patient to tolerate the effects of cancer treatment.

Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda required 2,466 units in 2016 alone. The Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) provides the blood and blood products needed in hospitals to help patients. An average adult has between 10 and 12 pints of blood. A blood donation is just 470mls – less than one pint. You must be 18 or over and under 65 to give blood for the first time. If you are aged between 65 and 70 years and you have donated in the last 10 years, you can give blood. In selected cases, you can give blood if you are 70 years or over.

If you’d like to help, there is an opportunity to give blood at the IBTS mobile clinic in the Clan Na Gael G.A.A. Centre, Sunday 9th April, from 11:30pm to 3pm, Monday 10th April, from 4:30pm to 8pm at the Crowne Plaza Hotel Tuesday 11th April, Wednesday 12th April, Thursday 13th April, from 4:30pm to 8pm

For further details, please contact the lo-call Donor Information Line 1850 – 73 11 37.