World Blood Donor Day, celebrated annually on June 14, is a global campaign led by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products. The day also thanks voluntary, unpaid blood donors for their life-saving contributions.
In the UK, the NHS sets specific criteria for donors. You must be aged between 17 and 66 (or up to 70 if you have donated before) and weigh between 7 stone 12 lbs (50kg) and 25 stone (160kg). You cannot donate if you are ill, pregnant, or on certain medications. Recent dental work, tattoos, or piercings may also require a waiting period.
Certain medical conditions, such as being HIV positive, a hepatitis B or C carrier, or having been treated for syphilis, disqualify you from donating. Additionally, men who have had sex with another man in the past three months, and women who have had sex with a man who has had sex with another man in the same period, are currently not allowed to give blood.
To register, visit the NHS Blood and Transplant website and enter your postcode to find your nearest donation centre. Smoking on the day of donation is not recommended as it can cause light-headedness.
