Urgent call for December blood donors

Blood donors from Paisley are urgently needed throughout December.

The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) requires 470 people to give blood every day during this month.

And with Christmas Day falling on what is traditionally one of the strongest collection days of the week, it is asking donors to ensure they know their blood group and come forward now so that stocks continue to build in the run up to the festive season.

Lynne Willdigg, of SNBTS, said: “There are eight different blood groups, and we aim to maintain a five to seven days’supply at all times of each one.

“Our focus as a service is to ensure that we consistently meet clinical demand and work closely with hospitals to forecast that demand.

“This means that we can provide donors with a greater level of detail about how their donation is needed.

“For example, O Positive is Scotland’s most common blood group, so we must welcome 191 people with this blood group every day.

“O Negative is the only blood group that can safely be given to anyone in an emergency situation, therefore, requires proportionately a higher level of donation to the population profile.”

Anyone over the age of 17 in general good health and weighing more than 7st 12lbs, could potentially become a blood donor.

To register as a blood donor or to find out where your nearest donation session is, call 0845 90 90 999, or visit www.facebook.com/givebloodfor scotland, or @givebloodscot, or www.scotblood.co.uk