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12 December 2024

12 ways of Christmas

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Christmas is nearly upon us, and we’re all looking for gifts that are a little out of the ordinary. However, did you know that as a regular blood donor, the gift you give can be used in some unexpected ways?

This is partly because your blood can be separated into red cells, plasma and platelets, and each of these components can be used in very different ways.

And because it's Christmas, we thought we'd share twelve of them.

1. Sickle Cell patients

Patients with Sickle Cell Disease may receive regular blood transfusions to help lower the concentration of sickle-shaped red blood cells in their bloodstream, reducing pain and helping prevent serious conditions like strokes

2. Unborn babies

Blood transfusions can be given to unborn babies in the womb suffering from severe anaemia, often due to their blood type being incompatible with their mother's

3. Newborns

In newborns with haemolytic disease causing severe jaundice, exchange transfusions with donated blood is sometimes needed to remove the excess bilirubin and damaged red blood cells.

4. Cardiac patients

During complex cardiac surgeries, blood donations can support the patient's circulation when the heart is stopped, and ensure safe recovery by maintaining oxygen levels and clotting abilities after surgery.

5. Leukaemia patients

Giving a patient with low platelets (for example, someone suffering from Leukaemia) a platelet transfusion will reduce their risk of bleeding

6. Patients needing matched platelets

Some very ill patients need very specific types of platelets, fitting criteria that suits their individual needs. The testing we do on your donations means we are able to invite donors who are an exact match for these patients to come in and donate.

7. Autoimmune issues

Plasma from blood donations can be used to create intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), a treatment for autoimmune diseases, immune deficiencies, and certain neurological disorders.

8. Seriously injured patients

Albumin is a protein that can be extracted from the plasma in blood donations. This protein is used to prevent patients who have had serious injury, burns or bleeding from going into shock

9. Patients whose blood won't clot

Cryoprecipitate is another component made from blood plasma. This can be used to treat bleeding where the patient's natural clotting factors have been reduced, for instance if they have septicaemia (blood poisoning)

10. Burns patients

Patients with severe burns can be treated with plasma transfusions to replace lost blood volume, restore proteins, and support tissue healing.

11. Patients needing their blood plasma replaced

In conditions like Guillain-Barré syndrome, lupus, or myasthenia gravis, a patient's plasma can be replaced with donor plasma to remove harmful antibodies.

12. Patients with very rare blood types

Finally, the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service contributes to and benefits from international collaboration to ensure the supply of rare blood.

So there you go - you might already have done something amazing for Christmas – and you never even knew. No need to stop now, though – get your New Years Resolution into gear already. How many lives can you change in 2025?

  • Make a date to give blood this Christmas. Book in online, by email or over the phone on 0345 90 90 999 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm)

Current blood stock levels across Scotland Monday 23 December

We aim to retain 6 days of stocks at any time in order to meet the requirements of patients in Scotland.

Learn more about blood types