A Christmas Eve blood donation session has been organised in a bid to tackle a looming shortage this winter.
In the last ten years, the number of donors across the country has declined by 20 per cent.
NHS Blood and Transplant has launched a campaign to find 100 new blood donors in 100 days across Bath and north east Somerset. A number of extra sessions will be taking place across the city, including on Christmas Eve in Midsomer Norton, in a bid to encourage people to donate before February 14. Donor relations co-ordinator Geraldine Parker said: "We try and have a push for donations at this time of year because it is more difficult for people to come out and give blood.
"While we appreciate people are often very busy shopping for presents and planning get-togethers at this time of the year, donated blood is needed just as much as ever in December.
"As a result, we are appealing for people here in B&NES to show warm hearts by taking just a little time out to give blood this Christmas.
"We are particularly keen for younger people and those who have not given blood before to get in touch so that they can become the lifesavers of the future."
The team is aiming to collect 21,344 units of blood in B&NES during the current financial year.
The blood goes to the NHSBT centre in Filton in Bristol, which is stocked with more than 1,000 gallons of blood, and handles 11,500 blood donations a year.
The unit provides blood to 100 hospitals across the South West of England, and donations have to be processed quickly as red cells last only 35 days.
People can donate at one of the following sessions:
December 24, Midsomer Norton Community Hall, Gullick Tyning, 10am until 2pm.
December 27, Bath City Football Club, Twerton, 10am until 2pm.
December 28, St Philip's and St James Church, Odd Down, 1.30pm until 3.30pm or 4.30pm until 7.30pm.
Call 0800 123 2323 to book an appointment or visit www.blood.co.uk.
To give blood you must be aged between 17 and 65, in good health, and weigh at least 7st 12lb. Men can donate every 12 weeks, while women can donate every 16 weeks.
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