For those who can donate - your country needs you!
https://news.sky.com/story/nhs-decla...p-low-12718647
Blood supplies have fallen critically low, forcing the NHS department that manages donations to declare its first-ever amber alert status.
NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) said overall blood stocks in the health service stood at 3.1 days, but levels of O type blood have fallen to below two days.
It aims to hold more than six days of blood in stock.
Hospitals have been told to protect their supplies, meaning non-urgent operations requiring blood could be postponed to ensure they are prioritised for patients who need them most.
Existing O negative and O positive donors have now been asked to book in appointments to give blood.
In the hours after the amber alert was announced, the Give Blood website appeared to be inundated with people wanting to book appointments.
People landing on the homepage were told they were in a "queue" before being able to choose a date and location for their donation.
O negative blood is the universal blood type that can be given to everyone. It is vitally important during emergencies and when the blood type of the recipient is unknown.
Blood can only be stored for 35 days, which means there is a constant need for donations - and a need for specific blood types.
The amber alert will last initially for four weeks, which NHSBT said should enable blood stocks to be rebuilt.
Around one in seven people have O negative blood.
Air ambulances and emergency response vehicles carry O negative supplies for emergencies.
