RoscommonDaily.com is supporting the #MissingType Blood Donation appeal which aims to highlight an almost 30% international drop in people becoming blood donors compared to a decade ago.
The campaign brings together 25 blood services, including the Irish Blood Transfusion Service, from 21 countries covering one billion of the World’s population who are each calling for new donors to ensure blood donation for future donations.
Speaking about the campaign IBTS National Donor Services Manager, Stephen Cousins said “In Ireland there is a particular need for new donors as 21% less people came forward to donate for the first time in 2015 compared to 2010. While the average age of donors in Ireland was 40.8 years old last year. This has increased by 2.5 years, from 38.4 years in 2005. This is part of a world-wide trend in blood donation. In a survey for the Missing Type campaign, participating blood services reported the number of people becoming donors and giving blood for the first time was 1.8m in 2005 and 1.3m in 2015 – a drop of just over 27% As part of this initiative, the IBTS is aiming to recruit an additional 8,000 new donors before the end of the year.”
Throughout the campaign, As, Bs and Os, the letters of the main blood groups, will disappear in everyday and iconic locations across the world including Croke Park, Wild Atlantic Way, Bondi Beach, Route 66, Tokyo Tower and Downing Street all are losing their A, B and Os for #MissingType.
“Blood transfusions save lives and transform health for millions across the world. But blood transfusions cannot happen if people do not give blood. Whether it is patients receiving treatment for cancer, blood disorders, after accidents or during surgery or women who lost blood in childbirth, blood is an absolutely essential part of modern healthcare.
“We really hope that people will be inspired by the Missing Type campaign and start saving lives by becoming blood donors. They can visit giveblood.ie to check eligibility, see when the next clinic is on or register their interest if no clinics are near them in the future,” concluded Stephen Cousins.
The following are details of upcoming Blood Donation Clinics in County Roscommon:
Roscommon Town Clinics
Venue: Dr. Hyde Park, Athlone Road, Roscommon
Date: 17th August
Times: 5:00pm – 8:30pm
Note: there is also recruitment for the bone marrow registry at this clinic
Venue: Dr. Hyde Park, Athlone Road, Roscommon.
Date: 18th August
Times: 5:00pm – 8:30pm
Castlerea
Venue: Castlerea Enterprise Hub, The Demesne, Castlerea
Date: 8th September
Times: 5:00pm – 8:30pm
Boyle
Venue: St. Joseph’s Hall
Date: 12th October
Times: 4:30pm – 8:00pm
Other upcoming Blood Donation Clinics close to County Roscommon include:
Athlone
Venue: The Shamrock Lodge Hotel
Date: October 25th to 27th
Times: 4:30pm – 8:00pm
Longford Town
Venue: The Longford Arms Hotel
Date: November 15th to 17th
Times: 4:30pm – 8:00pm