Voluntary donors give safest blood

(CNS): The introduction of World Blood donor day which was celebrated around the world on Sunday (14 June the birthday of Karl Landsteiner, the Nobel prize winner who discovered the ABO blood group system) was designed to raise awareness about the importance of donating blood. Evidence from around the world demonstrates that voluntary unpaid donors are the foundation of a safe blood supply because they are least likely to transmit potentially life-threatening infections, such as HIV and hepatitis viruses, to the recipients of their blood. 

Millions of people owe their lives to people they will never meet as a result of blood donation but the overwhelming majority of the world’s population still do not have access to safe blood according to the World Blood Donor Organisaiton.

Anyone wishing to donate blood in Cayman can do so at the blood bank at the Cayman I/slands Hospital during working hours. Setting an example last Friday (12 June) the Minister for Health Mark Scotland gave a pint of his own. “At any time, anyone of us could need blood. It is important that we sign up for this civic duty. I came here today to set an example and to show that it is nothing to be afraid of. So be a hero and donate blood,” Scotland said.

World Blood Donor Day is focused on the encouragement of more people to become regular blood donors as oppose to a surge of one day donors