The Irish Blood Transfusions is urgently calling on people with RhD negative blood types to donate, as supplies continue to come under pressure.
Stocks of O Negative blood are particularly low and are forecast to drop below a three-day supply by tomorrow. The shortage has been linked to a decline in donations combined with increased demand from hospitals and surgical procedures.
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Once donated, blood is carefully processed and separated into three key components, allowing it to be used in the treatment of a wide range of patients.
Red blood cells are used to replace blood lost through surgery, injury or illness, and are also vital for people whose bodies cannot produce enough healthy blood cells due to certain medical conditions or cancer treatments.
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Platelets, which help blood to clot, are essential for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, as well as those recovering from major surgery or serious trauma. Because platelets have a shelf life of just five days, maintaining supplies is an ongoing challenge.
The third component is plasma, the liquid part of blood that contains important proteins for immunity and clotting. Plasma is used to treat patients who have suffered significant blood loss and is also used to produce lifesaving medicines such as immunoglobulin and albumin therapies.
A single donation can therefore make a difference to several patients, providing critical support across hospitals and healthcare services every day.
