DONATING blood or organs are the most important things you can do to make a difference to someone else’s life, according to new research which ranks altruistic acts.
A survey of 2,189 adults in England placed blood and organ donation top in a poll of ways that people felt they could make a real difference to other people’s lives.
As most New Year resolutions are starting to fade by mid-January, NHS Blood and Transplant are urging people not to ditch their New Year resolution but instead switch and make a pledge to register as a blood or organ donor.
In the survey carried out in December 2021 respondents were asked: ‘When it comes to making a real difference in people’s lives, which of these do you think are the most important things that someone could do?’
Donating organs or giving blood came out as the two most important steps that people can take.
· 42 per cent of people citing organ donation as the most important
· 43 per cent of people saying giving blood was most important.
Other ways people were asked to list in terms of importance included giving to charity, donating to food banks or doing voluntary work.
Respondents said the biggest motivation for giving blood or donating organs was that they could help save or improve someone else’s life.
Other reasons were to help the NHS, that donation is the ‘right thing to do’ and that it ‘feels good’ to do something for others.
One organ donor can save or transform up to nine lives after their death through organ donation and save and transform even more by donating tissue.
Journalist Ross Crawford is a regular blood donor. He said: “I first started when I was challenged by a work colleague to donate, and I haven’t looked back since.
“Indeed, it’s become a permanent fixture in my life.
“It’s simple to do, doesn’t take long, you’re well looked after and there’s a nice drink and chocolate biscuits after. What’s not to like?
“Oh – and you’re helping someone who is at risk, and I always look forward to the text which tells you where your donation has been used.”
To register call 0300 123 23 23, download the GiveBloodNHS app, or visiting blood.co.uk
Find out about organ donation, and register your organ donation decision, at organdonation.co.uk or call 0300 123 23 23.
