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Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Huge surge in blood donations as NHS faces Red Alert and dangerously low stocks
Mirror appeal sparks 100,000 blood donations to stop routine operations having to be cancelled due to NHS shortages More than 100,000 appointments to give blood were booked in the week after the Mirror spearheaded an urgent appeal for donations. Our front page last week revealed a million people need to give blood to avoid a first ever Red Alert as the NHS struggles with dangerously low stocks. NHS Blood and Transplant said it is going through its worst ever shortage and around 200,000 more donors are needed in England to stabilise blood supply. Routine transfusions for cancer patients and women after childbirth which aid recovery are among those which may be halted if a Red Alert is declared. In the week after the appeal over 29,000 people registered as new blood donors and over 100,000 appointments were booked. Gerry Gogarty, Director of Blood Supply, said: "We are extremely grateful to the support of the Daily Mirror which played a significant part in generating this response from so many thousands of people across the country. 'We are so grateful for the response we have seen from new and existing donors across the country over this past week. Over 29,000 new donors registered and 100,000 booked appointments is an incredible response. 'However, with 50,000 appointments in need of filling each week, we urge people not to lose this momentum. As we head into the summer, we still have many appointments available to book – with 50,000 donor centre appointments still available over the next six weeks.' A Red Alert would mean less than one day's blood stocks are available and must be prioritised for immediately life threatening cases. The NHS aims to have six days' stock at any one time but currently has around three days' supply. It comes after the Mirror launched the Give a Pint, Save a Life campaign to help blood stocks recover after the Covid-19 pandemic amid ongoing shortages. One donation can save up to three lives. The NHS remains in its longest ever Amber Alert for low blood stocks which was declared last July. Red Alert which would mean demand far exceeds capacity, threatening public safety and causing widespread surgery postponements. Donations have been falling in part due to changing habits as more people work from home since the pandemic. Most available donation slots are at larger town and city centres. Of the 29,000 people who registered last week, 1,000 were from a Black heritage background. This is crucial because sickle cell disease is the country's fastest growing inherited blood disorder and it disproportionately affects Black African and Black Caribbean communities. Around 250 babies a year are born with the condition in the UK over 13,000 sickle cell patients currently rely on regular blood transfusions. The best matched blood will often come from donors of the same ethnicity. The NHS needs around 250 donations per day from Black heritage donors in order to meet current need and demand continues to grow. Mr Gogarty said: 'While we have seen a great response to our calls for more Black heritage donors to sign up to become blood donors, there remains an urgent need for more to register and give, as the demand for blood continues to grow.' Sickle cell disease is when red blood cells are sickle shaped rather than circular. This leads to agonising blockages that damage organs and can lead to blindness or a fatal stroke. These sickle cell 'crises' are so painful that more severely affected patients can be prescribed morphine - more typically given during end of life care - just to get them through the day. NHS Blood and Transplant needs over 17,000 regular donors of Black heritage to help meet growing demand for sickle cell patients. More than half of donors of Black heritage are likely to have the Ro blood type, compared with just 2.4% of other ethnicities. Aliya Gladyng from Sydenham, relies on regular six-weekly blood transfusions to help manage her sickle cell disease. She said: 'As an exchange patient, I receive blood transfusions every six weeks. Each time, I have eight units taken out of my body and eight more units of donated blood put back in. This means I need around 70 bags of blood every year. Please donate blood. You really have no idea how much it helps people like me.' The NHS needs over 5,000 blood donations every day - or around 1.8 million a year in England. This requires around one million donors who regularly donate to help maintain a reliable blood supply. Mr Gogarty added: 'We very much hope that people who have registered, booked or donated for the first time over this past week, will become regular donors to help stabilise blood stocks and more people will continue to keep coming forward to help us save more lives in the future.' To register as a blood donor with the NHS you can sign up online through the NHS Give Blood website or by downloading the NHS Give Blood app. You can also sign up by calling 0300 123 23 23. Once registered, you can book your appointment online, through the app or by calling.
Daily Mirror
08-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
NHS could issue first ever 'Red Alert' for blood donations as stocks run low
NHS says transfusions for cancer patients and women after childbirth are among those which may be halted if a Red Alert is declared for the first time ever as the service struggles with low stocks A million people need to give blood to avoid a first ever Red Alert as the NHS struggles with dangerously low stocks. NHS Blood and Transplant says it is going through its worst ever shortage and around 200,000 more donors are needed in England to stabilise blood supply. Routine transfusions for cancer patients and women after childbirth which aid recovery are among those which may be halted if a Red Alert is declared. This would mean less than one day's blood stocks are available and must be prioritised for immediately life threatening cases. The NHS aims to have six days' stock at any one time. Currently 785,000 people - or 2% of the population - are keeping the nation's blood stocks afloat. The NHS is asking more people to give blood regularly and tackle the crisis with 'the country's largest volunteering force'. Health Minister Baroness Merron said: 'I am extremely grateful to the many thousands of people who donate regularly – the blood you donate saves people's lives, from mothers in maternity wards to victims of car crashes. However the NHS is in urgent need of more lifesaving blood donors from all backgrounds.' It comes after the Mirror launched the Give a Pint, Save a Life campaign to help blood stocks recover after the Covid-19 pandemic amid ongoing shortages. One donation can save up to three lives. The NHS remains in its longest ever Amber Alert for low blood stocks which was declared last July. Red Alert which would mean demand far exceeds capacity, threatening public safety and causing widespread surgery postponements at hospitals nationwide. The shortages are due in part to changing habits as more people work from home since the Covid-19 pandemic. Most available donation slots are at larger town and city centres. NHSBT chief executive Dr Jo Farrar said: 'There are many thousands of people who donate regularly and help us keep patients alive. You keep the NHS going and save and transform thousands of lives a year. Our stocks over the past 12 months have been challenging. If we had a million regular donors, this would help keep our stocks healthy – you'd truly be one in a million." Isaac and his 'Hulk blood' The NHS is calling for a million donor superheroes to start giving blood to help keep people like Hulk fan Isaac Balmer alive. Isaac, aged four, needs his regular supply of 'Hulk blood' every 12 weeks to keep him strong and healthy. The youngster from Hull was born with Hereditary Spherocytosis, which is a genetic blood condition which causes fragile red blood cells to break down faster than normal leading to severe anaemia and other complications. Mum Jasmin Suggit said: "During his transfusions, he refers to donor blood as 'Hulk blood' and imagines himself becoming stronger and healthier. She said: 'Isaac's haemoglobin levels fluctuate and when they drop significantly, he becomes lethargic and jaundiced. But when he receives his transfusion you see the colour return to his cheeks and his energy levels soar before our eyes. It is incredible. But this wouldn't be possible without the real life, everyday superheroes who keep Isaac and others like him alive, thanks to their regular blood donations.' Two thirds of all the blood currently collected by the NHS is used to treat patients who rely on blood transfusions, including cancer and life-long blood conditions. Isaac receives transfusions every three months at Hull Royal Infirmary where mum Jasmin works in the newborn screening team. Jasmin said: "Until you're one of those who need blood yourself or know someone who does, it may not always be a priority. But Isaac's journey has put things into perspective and his journey has inspired me to become a blood donor myself. It's a small act that can make a big difference in someone's life." There are currently between two and three days' of blood stocks available to the NHS but rates of donations have been falling. There are 55,000 unfilled appointment slots in the next six weeks. The 'active donor base' - which refers to donors who have given blood in the last 12 months - stood at 785,000 at last count in April. This is down from 800,000 before the pandemic in 2020. The NHS needs over 5,000 blood donations every day - or around 1.8 million a year in England. This requires around one million donors who regularly donate to help maintain a reliable blood supply. NHSBT's blood director Gerry Gogarty said: 'Blood stocks are critically low and there's a pressing need to avoid a Red Alert. We can do this if we fill the available appointment slots – particularly in town and city centres. That could have a severe impact on the NHS with non-urgent services potentially being paused to focus on the most critical needs.' There is a critical need for O negative donors – the universal blood type compatible with anyone and used in emergencies. Just 8% of the population have O negative blood but it accounts for 15% of the blood used by hospitals and first responders. There is also an increasing need for donors of Black heritage as around 50% have a blood subtype called Ro, which is used primarily to treat people with sickle cell disease. This is the country's fastest growing genetic blood disorder and patients require regular transfusions to prevent agonising and life threatening blockages. Last year England saw an increased wave of blood donation registrations – including the largest ever increase in registrations from Black heritage communities. However only one in four have gone on to donate, with a quarter of a million people who signed up yet to roll up their sleeves to make a lifesaving donation. Professor Meghana Pandit, NHS Co-National Medical Director, said: 'Regular blood donors provide a lifeline for patients across the NHS, and I'd like to thank them for their incredible generosity. Donating blood is a powerful way you can make a meaningful difference to people's lives, so I'd encourage anyone considering becoming a donor to please come forward to help stabilise blood stocks as we near a critical low – you could help save someone's life.' What would a Red Alert mean? The Red Alert has never before been used but is designed to help the NHS save and improve as many lives as possible. Routine procedures which require blood will be postponed so stocks are preserved for patients with life threatening haemorrhages, emergency operations such as heart surgery which cannot be delayed for 24 hours and patients who need a lifesaving transfusion due to illness. NHS Blood and Transplant will declare a Red Alert for blood stocks if there is a severe shortage of red cells. There are two levels of Red alert, dependent on the number of days of stock available. 'Red B' is between 0.5 and 1.0 days' supply of stock; 'Red A' is less than 0.5 days' supply of stock. The appeal comes just before the one year anniversary of the Amber Alert being in place across England and at the start of National Blood Week. NHSBT chief executive Dr Jo Farrar added: "Please book an appointment today, experience how good it feels to save lives, and come and do it again in a few months.'
The Hindu
25-05-2025
- Climate
- The Hindu
Boating suspended in Thekkadi till May 27; Monitoring Officer reviews preparedness in Theni district
Following the southwest monsoon setting in a week in advance, heavy rainfall in many parts of neighbouring Kerala has led to the suspension of boat rides in Thekkadi (Kerala) till Tuesday (May 27, 2025) after Red Alert was issued, officials said on Sunday. While the Indian Meteorological Department has given an orange alert for Theni and Dindigul districts, the officials here, led by Monitoring Officer M. Govinda Rao, Collector Ranjith Singh, and others took stock, of the preparedness at the District Collectorate. The special control room will monitor the rainfall level, to check on dam storage level, and to keep watch for floods at low-lying areas. The Disaster Management Department officials said they expected rainfall between Sunday (May 25) and Monday (May 26) along the Western Ghats. A warning has already been issued to people in areas along the river, with first responders put on alert. Officials in the Department of Highways and the police said the ghat section in the district was being closely monitored, especially the Cumbum Mettu, which connects Theni, Munnar, and other destinations. So far, there have been no problems. On Saturday, there was widespread rain in parts of the district, including Thekkadi and Mullaperiyar dam. Besides mild showers in some parts, there was largely no rain till 6 p.m. on Sunday, officials said.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Time of India
Cops hold drill to boost response strategies
Chennai: The city police, as part of efforts to enhance rapid response and crime containment strategies, conducted a security drill across 18 key locations including the Secretariat and RBI premises over two days. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Red Alert, held for two hours on Thursday and Friday evening, is part of a larger initiative spearheaded by commissioner A Arun and includes a colour-coded system under which red is for terrorist and bomb threats, amber for murders and heinous crime, and green for offences such as robbery and chain snatching. During Thursday's operation, concentrated in North Chennai under additional commissioner Parvesh Kumar and joint commissioner M Manohar, vehicles were inspected, identities verified and potential escape routes commonly used by offenders monitored. At Chennai port, personnel led by Harbour police station assistanct commissioner teams simulated a high-risk infiltration scenario to assess readiness. Earlier in the week, in an operation led by joint commissioner Dr P Vijayakumar a similar mock exercise in the East Zone covering Egmore and Kilpauk, plainclothes officers posed as suspects to evaluate perimeter security and coordination among enforcement units. A senior officers said the ongoing drills aim to map the escape strategies of criminals and build operational models to allow police to seal off routes and neutralise threats swiftly. "With this structure, no matter where a crime occurs, our officers can immediately act, intercept, and apprehend suspects within a short time frame." Police later said Red Alert operations will continue at regular intervals across the city to ensure preparedness for real-time emergencies.
Mint
10-05-2025
- General
- Mint
India-Pakistan conflict: What are RED and GREEN alert sirens? What they indicate and what to do? FAQs answered
India-Pakistan conflict: India's ongoing conflict with Pakistan escalated further, after the latter launched a fresh attack on its neighbour. Sirens were sounded and blackouts were enforced in Jammu, Samba, other areas. In retaliation, India reportedly launched missiles and drones at four airbases in Islamabad. Top government officials have now said that India has also 'decided that any future act of terror will be considered an Act of War against India and will be responded accordingly.' So what are the different sirens sounded in the wake of an impending war? What is the difference between a Red Alert and a Green Alert? What to do in case of sirens? There are two types of air raid alert sirens that are sounded – Red Alert, and Green Alert. Red Alert signals a warning to take shelter, and Green Alert indicates that the threat has passed. Red Alert siren Green Alert siren Pitch goes back and forth Constant pitch Sounded for five minutes Sounded for one minute A Red Alert is sounded by district administrations when they receive a warning from Air Force stations about potential air raids. Air sirens sounded during the time of a Red Alert have descending type of pitch, where the sound continues back and forth between higher and lower pitches, in an interval of every four seconds. A red alert sir siren is sounded for around five minutes, so that people identify as a red alert, and remain within their houses. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued guidelines for when a red alert siren is sounded, as per the Chandigarh district administration. Here's what you should do: off all lights, fans, and electrical appliances—both inside and outside your home. 2. Close curtains and windows to prevent any light from escaping. 3. Disable automatic lighting systems in advance. 4. Refrain from using mobile phones, flashlights, or any light-emitting devices in open areas. During a red alert, residents are advised to stay indoors, keep away from windows and exterior walls, and avoid going out onto balconies or rooftops. If you're in a vehicle, park safely, switch off the headlights, and seek shelter in a nearby building, underpass, or underground parking area. As and when threats about air raids is reduced, a green alert is sounded. It has a constant pitch, unlike the pitch of a red alert siren, which varies during the course of time it is sounded. A green alert is sounded for one minute. A green alert indicates that civilians can step out of their houses for essential work, and can also turn on the lights in their buildings if needed. In response to "Pakistan's blatant escalation" — as termed by the Indian army — India on Saturday, launched missiles and drones at four airbases in Pakistan's Islamabad, reported ANI, citing sources.
