Blood Donation

1st Floor, King Edward Memorial Hospital
T 441 236 5067 | F 441 236 2272
Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursdsay 8:30am - 2:30pm
Contact: Fiona Barber, Nurse Supervisor

EMAIL >



Give the gift of life… become a blood donor today.

The purpose of the Blood Donor Centre is to solicit blood donors and collect their blood which is then sent to the laboratory for testing and distribution as needed.

The benefits to the community are invaluable – quite simply, the department’s operation saves lives.

In some cases when a local person is having surgery overseas, the doctor may suggest that they give autologous donations (donating their blood for their own use). In that instance the blood is transported overseas by the patient. This is the only instance in which blood is shipped internationally.

This department benefits people around the world via blood collection for patients who are overseas visitors. The benefits to the community are invaluable – quite simply, the department’s operation saves lives.

JOIN THOSE WHO MAY SAVE YOUR LIFE. DONATE BLOOD.
All blood groups are needed at all times and we constantly need new donors.

Call 441 236 5067 to make an appointment!

Why your blood is needed….

Why we all need blood?
Healthy blood is vital to us all. It has three major functions:
It carries oxygen and nutrients to the body cells so they can create energy
It helps to defend the body against infections and injuries
It removes waste products from the body cells

The average adult contains 10 pints of blood, which contains many substances including red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and plasma. Those of us who are healthy can donate a gift of blood to people who are not well or are injured and can save their lives.

What happens when you donate blood?
When you donate blood, just one pint is taken which your body will easily replenish within 24 hours. The blood is then separated into different components. Immediately after your donation you are given refreshments to help replace lost blood sugars and fluids.

Why Donate?
You will be saving lives in Bermuda. Without blood donors the hospital could not operate and many people who are sick or injured could not be saved.

Who can give blood?
Most healthy people between 18 and 70 who weigh a minimum of 110lbs can donate. We’ll make sure you are healthy by asking a few questions and doing a finger prick test. To ensure the safety of donors and recipients, there are some restrictions. We will go through these with you before you donate.

How much blood do I donate?
Each donation is a little less than one pint, which your body will be able to replace win about 24 hours.

How long does it take?
The entire process, including pre-testing, donating and time for refreshments afterwards takes about one hour.

Where do I donate?
The Blood Donor Centre is on the first floor of the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

Is it safe?
Absolutely! We use sterile techniques and disposable needles, syringes, tubing and bags to guarantee your safety.

Does it hurt?
I’m scared of needles!
Many of our donors are scared of needles too, but they still donate blood regularly!
It is relatively painless and we do all we can to make you comfortable.

How is blood used?
Red blood cells are needed by people who lose blood in surgery or in an accident, or who are anemic.

Platelets help control bleeding in people who can’t make their own platelets, for example patients receiving cancer medication.

Plasma is given to burn patients and critical care patients

All about blood…

Blood is a liquid. It is pumped throughout your body by the heart, through a network of miles and miles of blood vessels. The following are the main components of blood:

Red blood cells give blood its colour. Red blood cells pick up oxygen from the air you breathe in to your lungs and carry it round your body to the trillions of cells that make up your body. The oxygen released by the red cells helps convert nutrients in food into energy.. Red blood cells also pick up carbon dioxide and carry it back to your lungs to be breathed out. Red blood cells are round and tiny – about 3,000 end-to-end would equal 1 inch! An average adult body contains about 25 trillion red blood cells.

White Blood cells fight off infections and help you recover from viral diseases such as colds and chicken pox. White blood cells are removed from donated blood before it is used.

Platelets are very, very small and irregularly shaped particles in the blood that help stop bleeding. If you are cut, it is the platelets that enable your body to form a scab, which stops the flow of blood and allows you to heal. Platelets are donated through a process called apheresis, which filters the platelets from the blood. Through this process, one donor can give as many as two complete platelet units.

Plasma is the circulating liquid in which the red and white cells and platelets move. It carries nutrients to all parts of the body and carries off waste products. Six out of the ten pints of blood in your body is plasma and most of it (92%) is water. The remaining 8% contains more than 200 substances, including proteins, minerals, vitamins, sugars, fats and materials that fight disease and act as chemical messengers.