THE Great Western Air Ambulance charity (GWAAC) is urging people to sign up and save lives by donating blood this National Blood Week.

The charity’s Critical Care Team have been carrying blood on board their helicopter for almost two years, meaning they can provide pre-hospital blood transfusions to patients.

Since carrying blood on board, the chances of a patient’s survival has dramatically increased and last year they provided more than 50 blood transfusions at the scene of an accident.

GWAAC critical care doctor Harvey Pynn said: “I have no doubt in my mind that lives have been saved as a result of pre-hospital blood transfusions in this area.”

A spokesperson for GWAAC said: “The NHS needs over 6,000 blood donations every day to treat patients in need across England.

“Due to the high demand for blood, the NHS estimates that they need approximately 200,000 new donors each year.

"In order to carry blood on board, we work closely with Freewheelers EVS.

"Freewheelers EVS is the blood bike charity for Bristol, Bath and Somerset in South West England.

"Volunteer riders provide a free out-of-hours emergency motorcycle courier service to hospitals across the region."

Donors can use the hashtag #imthere when they register to give blood or after they donate to join in with GWAAC’s campaign. Find out more at blood.co.uk and greatwesternairambulance.com