A mum of five is backing a new year campaign encouraging people to sign up to give blood, after donations helped save her son’s life.

When he was seven, Oakley Orange needed 17 pints of blood as he was fighting to survive following a horrific reaction to medication that caused his skin to burn from the inside out.

Four years on, Oakley is still suffering the long-term effects of his illness, known as Steven Johnson Syndrome (SJS), but it is partly thanks to those blood transfusions that he is still here today.

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For that reason, his mother Lorraine, of Empire Road, Strood, is supporting a campaign by the NHS Blood and Transplant service encouraging people to make a new year’s resolution to give blood.

Across the country, 900,000 people gave blood last year. But the NHS needs around 200,000 new donors every year to maintain the supply.

Donors are needed from all blood groups but there is a particular need for more people from black and Asian communities to donate to help provide the right mix of blood.

Mike Stredder from the service, said: “It’s new year and like many of us, you may be thinking about the year ahead and some changes you’d like to make to your life.

“This year we are asking people to focus on giving blood. It’s easy to sign up and book your first appointment online or via our mobile phone app.”

Mrs Orange said: “Throughout his hospital stay Oakley had in excess of 17 pints of blood.

"He was losing so much blood from the open wounds on his skin and because he lost so much of his skin, there were time when his bed was literally soaked with blood.

His body was so weak it wasn’t able to produce the blood cells to replace the blood he lost. For Oakley, without the blood transfusions he wouldn’t be here today.”

Mrs Orange is urging people to take an hour of their day to give blood and save someone’s life.

She added: “You can go in the evenings. It’s just a small part of your day.”

In general, as long as you are fit and healthy, weigh more than 7st 2lb (50kg) and are aged between 17 and 66 (up to 70 if you have given blood before), you should be able to give blood.

If you are more than 70, you need to have given blood in the last two years to continue donating.

Men can give blood every 12 weeks and women can give blood every 16 weeks.

If you are already a blood donor you could consider becoming a platelet donor and the service particularly needs donors with the A negative blood group as they can help any patient, regardless of blood type.

One platelet donation can help treat three adults or 12 babies or children. People can donate platelets at their nearest donor centre.

If you already give blood, ask about platelet donation at your next appointment.

It’s quick and easy to register to become a blood donor, visit www.blood.co.uk or download the app by searching NHSGiveBlood in the app store or call 0300 1232323.

Giving blood takes no more than an hour.

• You can find out more about the donation process and what happens at www.blood.co.uk/the-donation-process