Give the Gift of Life this Christmas

December 8, 2015

The Chairman of the Council’s Health Working Group, Alderman James Tinsley, is encouraging residents to give the ‘gift of life’ this Christmas, by donating blood.

Alderman James Tinsley recently donated his 100th pint of blood at St Patrick’s Pastoral Centre, Lisburn.

Over 500 patients in Northern Ireland need a blood transfusion each week.  The Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service estimates that throughout December over 2,000 patients will need blood and/or blood products. 

Alderman James Tinsley, Chairman of the Council’s Health Working Group, speaking about the importance of giving blood, said: “Giving blood is relatively painless, quick and easy and yet this simple act saves countless lives everyday.  It is not only in emergencies that a person needs blood.  Either whole blood or separate blood components have many uses including transplant and burn surgeries and to provide help to patients at a high risk of bleeding.  There are also many people across Northern Ireland whose lives depend on regular blood donations to help them cope with a variety of other conditions.

“I have been a blood donor for many years and would encourage others to take 45 minutes out of their busy schedules to donate blood at a donation session near them.  Donating blood is a rewarding experience and the Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service needs up to 200 new donors each week.”

Anyone aged between 17 and 65 years of age and in general good health may be eligible to donate.

Alderman Tinsley added: “Each blood donation can help as many as three people and there are not many gifts that can do that today.  So please help our national blood service maintain a safe stock level in local hospitals and help save lives this festive season.”

If you wish to donate blood, please log on to www.nibts.org to view the location of upcoming blood donation sessions.

Alderman James Tinsley donates his 100th pint of blood as he encourages others to become blood donors.  Assisting Alderman Tinsley are Donor Session Assistants Eileen Brown and Maire Kennedy.