A NEW campaign is calling for Coventry residents to commit to saving lives by registering as new blood donors.
The Missing Type campaign is being spearheaded by NHS Blood and Transplant and comes a year after more than 4,300 people in Coventry gave blood at least once during a 12 month period.
The NHS department are uniting with 25 blood donor organisations across 21 countries to highlight a 25 per cent drop in people becoming blood donors last year compared to a decade ago.
With the aim of ensuring blood donations are available to future generations, the campaign is hoping to inspire more people to give blood and help save lives.
While the campaign takes place, donors of blood types A, B and O are disappearing in hospitals around the globe.
After a survey revealed half of donors in England are aged 45 or more, the campaign has even attracted the support of Coventry-based Jaguar Land Rover.
Mike Stredder, director of blood donation at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “Blood donation is an amazing gift and transfusions save lives in Coventry every day.
“Whether it’s patients receiving treatment for cancer, blood disorders or during surgery, blood is an essential part of modern healthcare.
“Despite overall blood use in hospitals declining, we need more young donors to safeguard blood donation for future generations.”
In the West Midlands, there is particular need for more black and south Asian donors.
One of the reasons behind this is people from black and Asian communities are more likely to have conditions such as Sickle Cell Disease and Thalassemia, which need regular blood transfusions.
Mr Stredder added: “We particularly need people with blood groups O negative, and A negative to come forward and people from black and South Asian communities.
“If you don’t know what blood group you are you will find out shortly after your first donation.
“What’s important is that you register as a donor and book your first appointment to donate.”
Visit www.blood.co.uk to sign up as a new donor or call 0300 123 2323.
