People Are Being Urged To Donate Blood As Supply Is Running Low After Storm Emma

The people of Ireland are being urged to donate blood as supply is running low due to Storm Emma, which caused clinics to close for a number of days.

Storm Emma caused businesses, shops, schools and other amenities to shut their doors as a build up of snow made many roads impassable. 

The Irish Blood Transfusion Service has now issued a statement asking donors to make a special effort to donate blood as their supply has been "severely depleted" over the past few days.

IBTS Operations Director Paul McKinney said: "The national blood supply has been severely depleted over the last week as we have been unable to hold clinics, but we have continued to supply hospitals."

CALLING ALL BLOOD DONORS: If you can #giveblood this week please do - we are running low on all types as we have just 3 days supply on average across all groups and just 2 days in O negative! All clinic details can be found in the link. PLS SHARE https://t.co/o2DIDsI6Ve pic.twitter.com/d8Nze3LSGd

— Giveblood (@Giveblood_ie) March 6, 2018

He added: "As of this morning, we have just three days' supply on average across all groups and just two days in O negative."  

"We will be unable to guarantee supply to hospitals unless there is a significant increase in donations over the coming weeks to make up the shortfall."

McKinney added that the service is planning to obtain 7,000 donations between now and St Patrick's weekend.

Clinic details for anyone wishing to donate blood can be found here.

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