The National Blood Service

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The National Blood Service uses the premises of Paignton (Palace Avenue) Methodist Church twelve times a year, one day a month, for Blood Donor Sessions.  

If you have group 'O' blood, you're in good company. Almost half the population of the UK shares your blood type.

Knowing this, many people are tempted to believe that, because group 'O' blood is so common, there's no urgency for them to give blood themselves on a regular basis.

After all, one in every two donors that walk through the door are boring old 'O's, aren't they? I'll be thanked politely for my contribution, but what they're really waiting for is a rare 'AB' or an exotic 'B' negative specimen.

More people need group 'O' blood than any other type

In fact, there is a crying need for 'O' blood for this very reason. It is precisely because there are so many people with group 'O' blood, that it is in greatest demand - and it is therefore important that high numbers of donations are received.

ALL Group 'O' blood is special

There are other very good reasons why Group 'O' blood is so popular. The most versatile and friendly of all the blood groups, it can be safely introduced to anyone, anywhere - it is, in short, a good mixer.

Group 'O' blood can be given to more patients

Group 'O' can help people with other blood groups, whereas exclusive 'A', 'B' or 'AB' types will not mingle with each other. So, although doctors will normally only transfuse blood of the same group as the patient's, if there is a shortage of, say, group 'B' blood, group 'O' may be safely given to a group 'B' patient instead.

Group 'O' negative blood is the blood for emergencies

Group 'O' is also special in that, in rhesus negative form, it can be given to both rhesus positive and rhesus negative people.

In an emergency, when lives may depend on transfusions and there may be no time to test a patient's blood group, 'O' rhesus negative blood is a life saver.

Group 'O' blood can save the Lives of newborn babies

Babies born with blood disorders may need a transfusion right away, but it can be difficult to determine their blood group.

Here again, 'O' rhesus negative blood is of crucial importance since it may be used to transfuse newborn infants or even babies in the womb.

Group 'O' blood may seem ordinary but to us it is very special

'O' is not for ordinary

The National Blood Service cannot afford to be short of any type of blood - common or rare.

Hospitals in England alone require 10,000 donations of blood a day, blood not just for transfusions but for a whole range of uses, from the treatment of burns to the prevention of infection.

A plentiful and regular supply of group 'O' blood is the lynchpin of this service: - 'O' blood lies at its very heart.

So don't worry that, as an 'O' blood donor, we'll think you're too commonplace. 'O' is not for Ordinary. To us you couldn't be more special.

Becoming a regular blood donor will only take up a little of your time. And your donations will help provide the precious gift of life to someone else.

If you have group 'O' blood - either rhesus positive or rhesus negative - please become a regular donor.

By making every effort to attend when called, you could he saving a life - perhaps even your own one day.

Click to find our more about the National Blood Service

[ Community Pages ]  [ National Blood  Service ]  [ Blood Donor Sessions ]

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Hosted by -
Paignton (Palace Avenue) Methodist Church
Palace Avenue, Paignton, Devon, UK
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