Latest news with #SaveaLife
Daily Mirror
04-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Urgent NHS blood donor appeal in worst shortage ever - full list of areas in need
NHS Blood and Transplant issues appeal for 53,000 donors during unprecedented Amber Alert as banks holidays leave health service short of lifesaving supplies The NHS is facing its longest ever shortage of lifesaving blood stocks and has issued an emergency appeal for donations. The alert covering England has now been in place for nine months and is thought to be linked to changing post-pandemic habits and more people working from home. It is only the second time an Amber Alert has been initiated with the first one lasting just one month in 2022. NHS Blood and Transplant needs 5,000 donations every day and is today issuing the urgent appeal to Mirror readers to fill 53,000 unfilled appointment slots over the next six weeks. The health service is particularly struggling following the Easter break and during the month of May which also has two bank holidays. Donations tend to be much lower during warm weather and public holidays. 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 has a particular need for blood donors who are O negative, B negative, O positive and A positive. Gerry Gogarty, blood supply director at NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), told the Mirror: 'With two bank holidays and the half term holiday coming up, we urge people to help fill available blood and platelet donation appointments at our donor centres in major towns and cities across the country over coming days and weeks to help boost blood stocks. 'We often see a decline in donations during bank holidays and school holidays, which combined with the recent warmer weather, can lead to challenges in maintaining sufficient blood supplies. Despite the holidays, the need for blood does not stop and we need 5,000 donations a day to meet the needs of hospitals and patients – whether for emergencies or those in need of regular transfusions as part of their treatment for cancer or blood conditions, like sickle cell disease.' Blood stockpiles are depleted meaning supplies for such large transfusions are less likely to be quickly available to hospitals and ambulance paramedics. NHSBT believes donations are low due to lifestyle changes as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The main one being the shift towards working from home. Previously many commuters would give blood at town and city centre donor centres on their lunch break. Blood is constantly needed to help the NHS treat patients with cancer, blood disorders and those suffering medical trauma or undergoing surgery. O negative blood is known as the universal blood type because it is compatible for patients with all blood types and so is mostly used for emergency care. An Amber Alert means blood stock levels are significantly reduced, requiring hospitals to implement measures to conserve blood and prioritise its use for essential cases. It is usually triggered when blood stock levels fall below a certain threshold, usually around two days' supply for specific blood. NHS elective surgeries and other non-urgent procedures can be delayed when blood stocks are low. Waits for routine operations had been on an upward trajectory for over a decade from 2010 when the Tories came to power - when the elective waiting list in England stood at 2.5 million appointments. The waiting list hit a record high in September 2023, with 7.77 million treatments. The backlog has since dropped under Labour to 7.4 million in April but remain stubbornly high, made up of 6.2 million individual people waiting for at least one treatment. The NHS operates a complex system to ensure it has the right mix of blood types available across the whole country. Recent years have seen increasing demand as more people live with conditions which require regular transfusions to stay alive. One is sickle cell disease which is the fastest growing genetic disorder in Britain with more than 15,000 sufferers. The NHS aims for 5,000 donations a day to meet hospital demand but holidays and hot weather can both prevent the service from hitting these targets meaning blood stocks can drop. The Mirror is calling on readers to come to the aid of the NHS and help its long recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. Some existing donors, and donors of high priority blood types, may see more appointment availability than new donors or donors with less needed blood types when checking online. There is also a need to boost platelet stocks, which can only be held for seven days, rather than the 35 days of whole blood. Platelets are used particularly for cancer treatment. City donor centres are likely to have more availability than smaller town or village clinics. Last week Manchester was still showing it had over 4,000 slots to fill at its two centres by mid-June, while over 3,000 donors were needed in Bristol. Almost 3,000 slots were unfilled in Birmingham and over 2,000 in Nottingham. Centres with appointment slots to fill are in Birmingham Bradford Bristol Cambridge Leeds Leicester Liverpool London Luton Manchester Newcastle Nottingham Plymouth Sheffield Earlier this year NHS England launched a new drive to recruit younger blood donors after the number of 17 to 24 year olds signed up halved. Experts fear Millennials and Gen Zs are moving away from seeing blood donation as a worthwhile thing to do. NHS Blood and Transplant released data showing over-45s now make up more than half of blood donors, overtaking 17 to 44 year olds. 'Please go online or use our app to find the next available appointment. Each donation takes just an hour and can help save up to three lives," Gerry Gogarty added. To book an appointment to donate visit use the GiveBlood app or call 0300 123 23 23.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Michigan launches annual campaign for safer roads for motorcycle safety month
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)– May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has launched the Michigan Department of State's (MDOS) campaign. According to , there are more than 610,000 licensed motorcyclists in Michigan. MRCF also reports that out of 3,056 motorcycle crashes in Michigan, 165 were deadly in 2023. 84% of motorcycle crashes with another vehicle tend to happen on busier streets, with most happening while the motorcyclist is turning left. The Secretary of State's office reports since the launch of the 'Look Twice. Save a Life' campaign, there has been a 33% increase in Michigan drivers who report they always look twice for motorcyclists before making a turn, and drivers ages 18-29 report safer driving behaviors and are more likely to slow down near motorcyclists. 2023MotorcyclesCrashMapsDownload 'As motorcyclists return to Michigan's roads with the warmer weather, it's a good time to remind every driver to take extra care and watch out for motorcycles,' Secretary Benson said in a news release sent to 6 News. 'Motorcycles can be hard to see, so remember to 'Look Twice. Save a Life'. Staying alert and being aware will help keep us safe on the road all summer.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Daily Mirror
25-04-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Breakthrough in lab-grown blood could mean UK no longer needs to rely on human donations
Lab-grown blood could mean Britain no longer needs to rely on donations and could end shortages. The Government's chief scientific adviser has said unlimited blood grown from stem cells could soon be stored in huge factories around the country. Dame Angela McClean has released a report showing areas of engineering biology where Britain is pioneering new technologies, including creating compatible synthetic blood. Professor McClean said: 'The promise here is an unlimited supply of blood, so that we no longer have to rely on blood donations, which of course are a wonderful act on the part of the donors but do come with some of their own problems." Thousands of kind-hearted Brits rush to donate blood after amber alert on low stocks The NHS remains on Amber Alert for low donation stocks. One donation can save up to three lives. The Mirror launched the Give a Pint, Save a Life campaign to help blood stocks recover after the Covid-19 pandemic amid ongoing shortages. The announcement, reported in the Telegraph, comes after red blood cells grown in a lab from stem cells were transferred to a patient in a world-first clinical trial in 2022 led by NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) and the University of Bristol. Results of the trial are due next year but if successful the Government report suggests vast amounts could be made and stored in factories so that no patient needs to die due to lack of compatible blood after accidents or surgery. Dame Angela said unlimited blood supply was "the next thing to look forward to", adding: "At the moment all blood that's used after accidents and during surgery is from donations and it would be much better if we had other sources, because sometimes we run out, sometimes matching is very difficult, it's difficult to store, difficult to distribute. 'We have quite a big consortium of people working in Bristol and they're exploring the possibility of banking unlimited supplies of red blood cells. They do that by transforming stem cells or genetically reprogramming donated precursor blood cells.' Stem cells are a special type of cells that are able to make more cells like themselves as well as become other cells that do different things. It is also now possible to take developing blood cells from donors, and genetically reprogram them so that they keep growing and dividing forever. NHSBT, which is headquartered in Filton, Bristol, is running the Restore trial which has seen participants get two transfusions four months apart, one of standard donated red cells and one of lab-grown red cells. Researchers are also looking into creating "universal" synthetic blood cells which could be used for all blood types. Lord Patrick Vallance, the science minister, said: "This is a timely report. Engineering biology is a technology with enormous potential, and it is already delivering innovations from healthcare to clean energy." The breakthrough in synthetic blood could transform the lives of people living with agonising sickle cell disease. It is the fastest growing genetic condition in the UK where 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. 'Sickle cell pain is the worst I have ever felt in my life - it's hard to put into words' 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. Sickle cell disease mainly afflicts people with Afro-Caribbean heritage and to survive they need to undergo regular blood transfusions to switch out faulty blood cells. The Mirror has reported on shortages of ethnically matched blood donors as part of our Give a Pint, Save a Life campaign. In England alone there are around 15,000 people living with sickle cell disease with 250 new cases a year. NHS data shows there were 32,000 hospital admissions in England in 202324 for sickle cell disorders and 14,000 were admissions for sickle cell anaemia crises. To give blood, book an appointment by visiting use the GiveBlood app or call 0300 123 23 23.
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Free smoke alarms installed in West Reading homes
When Ann Dybalski saw a flyer offering free smoke alarm installations for West Reading residents, she didn't hesitate. 'I called immediately to schedule,' Dybalski said, noting that a fire this year caused significant damage to a relative's home. While no one was injured, she said the incident was a stark reminder of the dangers of house fires and the critical role smoke alarms play in preventing tragedy. Dybalski was one of five homeowners to preregister for the American Red Cross Pennsylvania Rivers Chapter's Sound the Alarm, Save a Life event Saturday in West Reading. The nationwide campaign of the American Red Cross focuses on reducing fire deaths by installing free smoke alarms, sharing fire safety information and encouraging families to create escape plans. West Reading Fire Chief Chad Moyer and Corinne Bridges of the greater Pennsylvania region of the American Red Cross disaster services, gather equipment for the installation of smoke alarms in West Reading homes on Saturday, April 19, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE) The Rivers chapter teamed with the West Reading Fire Department and volunteers to form three teams that installed devices in preregistered homes and knocked on doors, offering the service with the goal of reaching at least 100 homes and apartments throughout the borough. Team members Kamna Giare-Patel, a chapter board member; West Reading Fire Chief Chad Moyer; and Corinne Bridges of the Greater Pennsylvania Red Cross Disaster Relief Services were assigned to Dybalski's home. While Giare-Patel and Moyer replaced the nearly 20-year old devices on the first and second floors, Bridges explained the components of a good escape plan. Residents should identify multiple escape routes from each room, she said, practice with family members regularly and designate a safe meeting place outside the home where occupants can gather after evacuating. From left, West Reading Fire Chief Chad Moyer, Kamna Giare-Patel, board member of the Rivers chapter of the American Red Cross and Corinne Bridges, disaster services for the Red Cross, arrive at a home to install smoke detectors on Saturday, April 19, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE) Pet owners, like Dybalski, who has three cats, also should be aware of their animals' common hiding spots so the pets can be quickly located in an emergency, Bridges said. The need for initiatives like Sound the Alarm is especially urgent in Pennsylvania, said Steve Leauber, Red Cross regional disaster program manager. Pennsylvania has more fire-related deaths than any other state, he said, with 65 reported since the start of the year. Working smoke alarms, he said, can reduce the risk of death by 50%. 'This is about saving lives,' Peter Brown, executive director of the Pennsylvania Rivers Chapter, said of the program. 'Every second counts when there's a home fire. And having working smoke alarms can make all the difference.' Since the program's launch by the national organization in 2014, Brown said, it has saved at least 2,320 lives. Pennsylvania chapters began participating in 2015 and now hold 30 to 40 events each year across the state, with five or six typically taking place in the nine-county Rivers region, Brown said. The area chapter is hosting 16 Sound the Alarm events In April and May alone, the busiest time of year for the campaign. Communities are selected based on fire data and coordination with fire departments, Brown said. 'We've got a lot of history on fire locations and severity,' he said. Through that analysis, Brown said, Reading and West Reading were identified as two of the most fire-prone areas in Berks County, which is the most densely populated county in the chapter's coverage area. The city will be targeted in May with an event held in partnership with the Reading Fire Department. Brown emphasized the power of volunteerism in making the program a success, noting the chapter has around 500 regular volunteers as well as first-timers who join specifically for these events. Mike Herbert, community disaster program manager for the American Red Cross, outlines the procedures for the installation of smoke alarms in West Reading homes to members of the West Reading Fire Company on Saturday, April 19, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE) 'It's a great team-building opportunity,' he said. 'Corporate partners often bring groups, and they spend the day working together, making their communities safer.' Each event begins with a kickoff session where volunteers receive training and supplies before heading out to install alarms and educate residents. 'It's a really rewarding experience,' Brown added. 'You walk away knowing that you've increased, by probably 50%, the likelihood that someone will survive in the event of a fire.' For residents like Dybalski, the reassurance that her home and pets are better protected is invaluable. 'This means a lot,' she said, watching as the alarms were installed. 'You never think it's going to happen to you, until it does.' To schedule an appointment for smoke alarm installation or to volunteer, call 570-217-1397 or visit
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Free smoke alarms installed in West Reading homes
When Ann Dybalski saw a flyer offering free smoke alarm installations for West Reading residents, she didn't hesitate. 'I called immediately to schedule,' Dybalski said, noting that a fire this year caused significant damage to a relative's home. While no one was injured, she said the incident was a stark reminder of the dangers of house fires and the critical role smoke alarms play in preventing tragedy. Dybalski was one of five homeowners to preregister for the American Red Cross Pennsylvania Rivers Chapter's Sound the Alarm, Save a Life event Saturday in West Reading. The nationwide campaign of the American Red Cross focuses on reducing fire deaths by installing free smoke alarms, sharing fire safety information and encouraging families to create escape plans. West Reading Fire Chief Chad Moyer and Corinne Bridges of the greater Pennsylvania region of the American Red Cross disaster services, gather equipment for the installation of smoke alarms in West Reading homes on Saturday, April 19, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE) The Rivers chapter teamed with the West Reading Fire Department and volunteers to form three teams that installed devices in preregistered homes and knocked on doors, offering the service with the goal of reaching at least 100 homes and apartments throughout the borough. Team members Kamna Giare-Patel, a chapter board member; West Reading Fire Chief Chad Moyer; and Corinne Bridges of the Greater Pennsylvania Red Cross Disaster Relief Services were assigned to Dybalski's home. While Giare-Patel and Moyer replaced the nearly 20-year old devices on the first and second floors, Bridges explained the components of a good escape plan. Residents should identify multiple escape routes from each room, she said, practice with family members regularly and designate a safe meeting place outside the home where occupants can gather after evacuating. From left, West Reading Fire Chief Chad Moyer, Kamna Giare-Patel, board member of the Rivers chapter of the American Red Cross and Corinne Bridges, disaster services for the Red Cross, arrive at a home to install smoke detectors on Saturday, April 19, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE) Pet owners, like Dybalski, who has three cats, also should be aware of their animals' common hiding spots so the pets can be quickly located in an emergency, Bridges said. The need for initiatives like Sound the Alarm is especially urgent in Pennsylvania, said Steve Leauber, Red Cross regional disaster program manager. Pennsylvania has more fire-related deaths than any other state, he said, with 65 reported since the start of the year. Working smoke alarms, he said, can reduce the risk of death by 50%. 'This is about saving lives,' Peter Brown, executive director of the Pennsylvania Rivers Chapter, said of the program. 'Every second counts when there's a home fire. And having working smoke alarms can make all the difference.' Since the program's launch by the national organization in 2014, Brown said, it has saved at least 2,320 lives. Pennsylvania chapters began participating in 2015 and now hold 30 to 40 events each year across the state, with five or six typically taking place in the nine-county Rivers region, Brown said. The area chapter is hosting 16 Sound the Alarm events In April and May alone, the busiest time of year for the campaign. Communities are selected based on fire data and coordination with fire departments, Brown said. 'We've got a lot of history on fire locations and severity,' he said. Through that analysis, Brown said, Reading and West Reading were identified as two of the most fire-prone areas in Berks County, which is the most densely populated county in the chapter's coverage area. The city will be targeted in May with an event held in partnership with the Reading Fire Department. Brown emphasized the power of volunteerism in making the program a success, noting the chapter has around 500 regular volunteers as well as first-timers who join specifically for these events. Mike Herbert, community disaster program manager for the American Red Cross, outlines the procedures for the installation of smoke alarms in West Reading homes to members of the West Reading Fire Company on Saturday, April 19, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE) 'It's a great team-building opportunity,' he said. 'Corporate partners often bring groups, and they spend the day working together, making their communities safer.' Each event begins with a kickoff session where volunteers receive training and supplies before heading out to install alarms and educate residents. 'It's a really rewarding experience,' Brown added. 'You walk away knowing that you've increased, by probably 50%, the likelihood that someone will survive in the event of a fire.' For residents like Dybalski, the reassurance that her home and pets are better protected is invaluable. 'This means a lot,' she said, watching as the alarms were installed. 'You never think it's going to happen to you, until it does.' To schedule an appointment for smoke alarm installation or to volunteer, call 570-217-1397 or visit
