BLOOD DONORS ASTOUNDING RESPONSE PRAISED
Blood donors' 'astounding response' praised
AN "astounding" response from upwards on 1,000 blood donors who came forward in the days following the Omagh bombing, demonstrated a positive contribution to the atrocity, according to a spokesperson for the Blood Transfusion Service.
Thanking those who attended donor session in the local Christian Brothers School in the wake of the attack, Paul McElkerney said the agency was amazed at the reaction.
"The response from the people of Omagh was astounding.
"Normally during those three days we would have expected to receive over 300 donations, but to have received nearly 900 was amazing.
"We would like to thank everyone for their patience during the sessions."
Mr McElkerney said the procedure of donating blood would normally take up to 45 minutes per patient, which would include the actual donation, any paperwork associated with the patient and a short rest period and refreshments.
But during these particular sessions, due to the overwhelming response, people were sometimes forced to wait for hours.
"Over the three days, three hundred people in Omagh gave blood for the first time and many who had not donated for a number of years came forward.
"Not just in Omagh, but all over Northern Ireland, people realised that by giving blood they could make a positive contribution" he said.
During the week following the bomb, almost 4,000 people throughout the North came forward to donate blood.
"Unfortunately some people had to be turned away but we would like to thank them for the example they have shown by coming forward in the first place.
"Over that week, nearly 1,000 new donors joined the Service and if they continue to donate they will help save a great many lives" added the spokesperson.
Anyone wishing to obtain information on the Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service should phone: FreeCall 0500 534 666.
AN "astounding" response from upwards on 1,000 blood donors who came forward in the days following the Omagh bombing, demonstrated a positive contribution to the atrocity, according to a spokesperson for the Blood Transfusion Service.
Thanking those who attended donor session in the local Christian Brothers School in the wake of the attack, Paul McElkerney said the agency was amazed at the reaction.
"The response from the people of Omagh was astounding.
"Normally during those three days we would have expected to receive over 300 donations, but to have received nearly 900 was amazing.
"We would like to thank everyone for their patience during the sessions."
Mr McElkerney said the procedure of donating blood would normally take up to 45 minutes per patient, which would include the actual donation, any paperwork associated with the patient and a short rest period and refreshments.
But during these particular sessions, due to the overwhelming response, people were sometimes forced to wait for hours.
"Over the three days, three hundred people in Omagh gave blood for the first time and many who had not donated for a number of years came forward.
"Not just in Omagh, but all over Northern Ireland, people realised that by giving blood they could make a positive contribution" he said.
During the week following the bomb, almost 4,000 people throughout the North came forward to donate blood.
"Unfortunately some people had to be turned away but we would like to thank them for the example they have shown by coming forward in the first place.
"Over that week, nearly 1,000 new donors joined the Service and if they continue to donate they will help save a great many lives" added the spokesperson.
Anyone wishing to obtain information on the Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service should phone: FreeCall 0500 534 666.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0363
Published Date: 10-Sep-98
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