IBTS Launches Blood for Life week 17-21st September 2007

FAO:    News Editors; Picture Editors; Health Correspondents

Monday 17^th September 2007                               

IBTS launches Blood for Life Week 17 - 21st September

The Irish Blood Transfusion Service today launched Blood for Life Week at the Royal Hibernian Academy,Dublin. Mr Pat The Cope Gallagher T.D., Minister for Health Promotion and Food Safety, launching Blood for Life Week said that The IBTS is endeavouring to meet the needs of donors by bringing the service closer to the community through its new collection model The Bloodmobile.  This is a 3 bed mobile unit which has recently been commissioned. He encouraged people to become regular donors to ensure a consistent blood supply.

Announcing details of the weeks events, IBTS Chief Executive Andrew Kelly said that we all had a responsibility to ensure that blood was available when needed. 

During Blood for Life Week we encourage existing donors to return to us and give blood before the end of the year. 56% of donors donate once and we are asking those people to give a second donation. We also encourage people who have never given blood to attend a clinic over the coming weeks. 

When you consider that 1 in 4 of us will require a blood transfusion sometime in our life, that blood lasts just 35 days and a donor can only donate every 90 days it is clear that regular donations are essential to maintain hospital activities. The IBTS requires 3,000 donations a week every week to ensure that patients who need a life saving blood transfusion get it.  This would be an impossible task if it wasnt for the many thousands of people who support patients in hospitals every year, by giving blood. 

The aim of Blood for Life Week is to increase public awareness about blood donation, to encourage people to become regular donors and to thank donors for their commitment and support.  IBTS partners for Blood for Life Week are Vodafone, Today FM, Independent Newspapers and TV3.

Monday 17^th September

Blood for Life Week launched

Tuesday 18^th September

Donor Awards Ceremony for 100 time blood donors and bone marrow donors,Clontarf Castle,Dublin

Wednesday 19^th September

IBTS in association with Vodafone launch the Blood Mobile at10am in St Stephens Green

ENDS

(Pictures supplied from Maxwell Photography Ltd.)

For further information contact:  David Burbridge at 087 2316853