Blood Banking

The NHS released this appeal:

'We especially need O negative donors at the moment as we have experienced higher than expected orders for this type of blood in the past week. With Christmas rapidly approaching and the holidays this year falling over a weekend, we would also like to remind anyone due to donate to step forward
now, weather permitting. Maintaining healthy stocks of all blood groups is essential as people will still be in hospital and requiring treatment...   New donors are always welcome too.  Availability of all blood types is constantly monitored to ensure suitable amounts are available for use in hospitals. We already have been appealing for O negative donors but more are needed.'

It is commonplace in Italy for people about to enter hospital for surgery or other treatments to provide blood of their own or of their immediate family earlier; with more commonplace blood groups friends often contribute.  In this way general contributions can then be used for those unexpectedly facing a blood transfusion.   Also there is nothing so good as your own blood when you need it.  Angel's blood is quite rare ("It must be your father," remarked my worried mother when trouble developed over a newborn O positive HG) which is how this kind of blood-banking became familiar.  (I offered to give blood for others too, but anyone who lived in England between 1989 and the late 1990s is refused).

It seems a very useful and sensible measure to have in place.  Most surgery and treatments are planned.