Noel (68) receives award for making 50 blood donations

A LOCAL man received an award from the Irish Blood Transfusion Board last Friday at the Crown Plaza Hotel, Santry as an award for making 50 blood donations.

“I received a little gold drop, it’s like a tiepin,” said Noel Kinsella, Springfield, Tallaght who recently made his 50th blood donation.

Noel began donating blood fifty years ago.

“I’m 68 years old now, so I began when I was 18 or 19.

“18 is when you can start donating blood,” said Noel.

Noel was encouraged by his mother to donate blood.

“She was a volunteer with the St John’s Ambulance Brigade, they used to help at the donations clinics helping with the organising and giving out the tea.

“She was a blood donor herself,” said Noel.

Noel’s mother was with the Dun Laoghaire St John’s Ambulance Brigade.

“That’s where I started donating,” added Noel.

Noel has been living in Tallaght for 40 years.

“Most of my donating has been done here in Springfield where I live, they come to St Mark’s Primary school, Springfield four times a year,” said Noel.

Noel explains what donating blood entails.

“It generally takes about one and a half to two hours.

“At check-in you go through a questionnaire or a screening process to see if there is any reason why you can’t give blood, for example if you are on medication or if you had a recent illness, then they don’t [take a blood donation],” said Noel.

“If they are happy then they will proceed.

“They take a little sample of your blood and test it to ensure that the blood count is high enough so that it is safe for you to give blood, that the count isn’t low, then you can go ahead and donate,” said Noel.

Donors are encouraged to eat a good meal and drink plenty of fluids on the day they give blood.

“Donating, where the blood is taken out, takes about twenty minutes.

“It’s transferred into a bag at the side of the bed or chair, there is a nurse there to ensure that the blood is flowing well,” said Noel.

“The standard donation is a pint of blood, I think it might be a bit less than a pint,” said Noel.

After giving blood, donors stay for fifteen minutes afterwards and receive a cup of tea and refreshments to ensure that they are not feeling weak.

Noel would encourage others to donate blood.

“Absolutely, it’s a very fulfilling and important thing to do, you receive a text afterwards and you’re told what hospital the blood has gone to, and I think to myself ‘that’s going to help someone’,” said Noel.

Noel would also like to particularly encourage young people to donate.

“If you start, you get into the habit, it doesn’t cost you anything to do.

“It’s also important for the health service to have a continuous supply of blood,” said Noel.

“It’s a simple procedure.

“It’s also worthwhile and satisfying once you get in the system,” he added.

The retired sales representative intends to keep donating blood.

“My aim now is to get to 60 donations,” he said.

World Blood Donor Day is held annually on June 14.

The theme for 2024 was “20 years of celebrating giving: thank you blood donors!” to mark the 20th anniversary of World Blood Donor Day.