A Blood Donor session will be held on Monday 10th September at Newton Aycliffe Methodist Church Hall, Neville Parade from 2.30pm – 3.45pm & 4.30pm – 7pm.
People can make an appointment to attend a local session either by calling 0300 123 23 23 or by visiting www.blood.co.uk which also provides details of other blood donor sessions through a simple postcode search.
First-time donors should be aged between 17 and 65, weigh at least 50 kg (7 stone 12 lbs) and be in general good health. Those who have donated before can start again up to their 70th birthday and there is no upper age limit for donors who have donated in the last two years.
Just 4% of the eligible population are active blood donors and NHSBT collects approximately 2 million units of blood each year from 1.4 million blood donors.
A unit of blood is measured as 470mls (or just under a pint) and there are four main blood groups – O, A, B and AB. Group O is the most common and therefore the most in demand. A regular supply of blood is vital – red cells last only 35 days and platelets only 6 days.
NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is a joint England and Wales Special Health Authority. Its remit includes the provision of a reliable, efficient supply of blood and associated services to the NHS in England and North Wales.
It is also the organ donor organisation for the UK and is responsible for matching and allocating donated organs.
