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€ What’s so about giving blood? When you give blood, operations, for instance, you'll be doing one of the require literally pints and most amazing things pints of blood. Or just as anybody could dream of — importantly, components saving a life. extracted from your blood, such as plasma, can play a You can enable someone key role in a range of to receive a desperately procedures such as treating needed transfusion. Some burns or preventing infection. Seven year old As new treatments are Lamech has had to developed and more have more than 20 operations carried out, operations in two hospitals throughout the years to treat a country need more and rare kidney more blood, all year round. disorder, For example, in England and owes his and North Wales alone, life to blood nearly two and a half donors million donations are ill I) i 22501613457 needed each year to help the NHS save lives. But, only 5% of the UK population currently give blood. It’s all types of blood we need — not just rare ones. In fact, the commoner the blood type, the more we need. When Debra became pregnant, So even if your blood is complications set in. one of the most common Treatment with blood types — group O, for components played a vital part example — you can be sure _ in making sure she gave birth that by donating regularly, to a healthy baby girl two or three times a year, you really are doing something amazing. |Bl o war-{o)1\a-bs maetee ! eee ©: (eh ih'{- We ofRle fer! Noe “ao yee e3e to save a life Becoming a blood donor Eat regular meals — and let really is very simple. For us know if you’ve missed a more information — or to meal or are on a diet. enrol — just call us on Your session will last 0345 711 711 or return the about an hour in all. When coupon at the back of this you arrive, we'll ask you a booklet. We'll send you an few routine questions about invitation to the next donor your health. If it’s your first session either at a centre visit, these will be quite near you or at one of our detailed, but for regular mobile units. donors it’s a much shorter Some employers also interview. It’s very important arrange sessions so that — for your own well-being you can give blood at work and that of patients who — or you can just turn up at receive your blood —- to any public donor session. answer these questions fully and honestly. Before you donate, you should always drink lots of We’ll then take a drop of liquid (but not alcohol). blood from your finger or e4e “It was much more straightforward than I'd thought, and my boss was very happy to give me an hour off to give blood” ear lobe just to make sure three quarters of a pint) of you’re not anaemic. If all is blood. Most people hardly well, we’ll take your feel a thing, and after a donation. short rest, a drink and a biscuit, you'll be up and This only takes about ten about and ready to go. minutes, during which time we collect 450ml (about Blo wr-{o)i\e-mt oalle mmt—-Ahuim la-lo mmB Lolor-hig wAl Save a life '@: Give blood Ss © Eryi e5e Practically anyone As a rule, as long as And even if there are you're in good health and health reasons why you aged between 18 and 60, can’t actually give blood, you can become a regular you can still help do blood donor. something amazing, for example by encouraging A confidential health your family and friends to interview helps us be sure donate. that you are fit to give blood and that your blood To make sure that giving will be safe for the patients blood won’t make you who receive It. anaemic, we check your iron levels at each session. The tiny drop of blood we take tells us if you can We always do a quick and simple test to make sure that giving blood won’t make you anaemic @6@e = GIVE BLOOD GIVE LIFE Leeds Centre in \easauew e: BECOME A BLOOD DONOR TODAY = 0800 252250 _ Mobile donor units safely make a problem, we'll regularly visit most parts full donation inform you in the that day -— if eiuaddeda| strictest not, we'll advise you what confidence and advise you you should do. who to consult. We'll also need your You should also let your agreement that we can test local donor centre know if your donation later. This will | you develop any illness tell us your blood group and during the fortnight following screen for any infection. If a donation. the tests reveal any |Bl o ae ={o) 1h og alu ale mmrh iiAtum- al e Mmmo lor.h i, OO: Give blood "liege e/e@ Whilst practically anyone doctors and nurses, can can give blood, there are take blood donations. All some exceptions. The equipment used is new and panel on the right shows sterile for each donor and some of the reasons why never re-used, so you don’t there is some blood we are have to worry about risks unable to accept. to your health. Naturally, we carefully control how we collect blood. Only trained staff, under the supervision of “We usually go together, two or three times a year. They’re f really friendly, and — yes — you do get a drink and biscuits afterwards!” Some of the people who can’t give blood There are two main reasons why 2 If your blood might you should not give blood. transmit an infection to the patient who receives it 1 If giving blood may affect your own good For example: health (our medical If you have recently visited a interview will help you tropical country decide) If you have ever injected drugs For example: lf your lifestyle puts you at If you are not well on the day risk of acquiring HIV (eg with flu or a heavy cold) If you have recently undergone If you are pregnant or have ear or body piercing. been pregnant within the last year Please refer to the leaflet Do Not If you have certain medical Give Blood Without Reading conditions or are on certain This Leaflet. |f you have any medication. questions or doubts at all, please ring your local centre for advice or ask the nurse or doctor at your Session. [Drow -{o)( heelm a lo murb it4m- a le MmC Lelol-A'g ewke ©< : eh tite ol Rerele! KR <= A re re e9e Le what we can do with your blood Put simply, blood is made anti-cancer treatment up of red cells, platelets, (eg leukaemia) and in white cells and plasma. patients who cannot From your donation we produce normal platelets. make good use not only of whole blood, but of its If it's your first visit, we'll go components. For example: through a simple questionnaire with you to check your health Whole blood is used in details cases of acute blood loss, eg road traffic accident or during an operation. Red blood cells are transfused when an illness leads to anaemia. Platelets are needed where bone marrow cannot work properly following