2025.0037

National Blood Service Yorkshire leaflet, 1995. White folded paper leaflet with slogan on front page reading ‘Sorry. But it seems the only way to get blood is to break your heart’, accompanied by three colour images of patients.

Inscription

On front page: SORRY. BUT IT SEEMS THE / ONLY WAY TO GET BLOOD / IS TO BREAK YOUR HEART. On back page: NATIONAL BLOOD SERVICE YORKSHIRE / FREEPOST LS1286 / (HDS) / LEEDS / LS15 8YY

Production date

1995

Production organisations

National Blood Service Yorkshire

Labels

The leaflet from 1995 depicts three people, all in a state of vulnerability. The purpose of this campaign is to highlight those who are victims of blood stock shortages. By using images of children, it adds a level of manipulation by encouraging adults who are eligible to donate blood to do so for those who need a blood transfusion to survive. The patients are also depicted with a variety of illnesses and injuries, demonstrating the different reasons why people might need a blood transfusion. It is possible that part of the idea here is that someone who has seen this leaflet may know a child who has suffered a similar injury, therefore drawing parallels between the two and reinforcing the need for donation.

Sarah Chadwick, PhD Researcher