Some 8,000 new blood donors are needed by the end of this year after the number of first- time donors dropped by a fifth last year compared to five years earlier, according to the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS).
The service is taking part in an initiative across 21 countries to highlight an almost 30 per cent drop in people becoming blood donors in the last decade.
Blood services blame the drop on urbanisation, wider and more exotic travel and a lack of awareness about the need for more diverse blood donors. The fact people have less time in an “increasingly busy and digital world” is among the factors, the IBTS says.
Some 25 blood services from 21 countries covering a billion people will participate in the Missing Type campaign to highlight the need for new donors.
Campaign
IBTS national donor services manager
Stephen Cousins
said three people every second got a “life-changing” blood transfusion across the world: “In Ireland there is a particular need for new donors as 21 per cent fewer 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 last year, this has increased by 2.5 years, from 38.4 in 2005.
The IBTS said this was part of a worldwide trend. Locations such as Croke Park, the Wild Atlantic Way, Bondi Beach, Route 66, Tokyo Tower and Downing Street will all be used for campaign material, in which the letters of the main blood groups will be omitted in favour of the words “Missing Type”.
“Blood transfusions save lives and transform health for millions across the world. But blood transfusions cannot happen if people do not give blood.”
For further information on giving blood, visit giveblood.ie