Modern blood services and apps like RedLife store and process personal health information. Protecting this data is critical to maintaining trust.

What data is collected and why

Typical information includes:

·       Personal details: name, age, gender, contact info, location.

·       Health information: medical history, medications, test results, eligibility status.

·       Donation and transfusion records: dates, centres, outcomes.

These data are used to:

·       Screen donors and ensure safety.

·       Plan and track blood stocks and usage.

·       Improve service quality and follow regulations.

·       In apps, to match donors and recipients more efficiently.

Your rights as a donor or user

You have the right to:

·       Know what data is being collected about you.

·       Know how it will be used (for example, donation reminders, matching requests, quality audits).

·       Request correction of wrong information (e.g., incorrect blood group or contact details).

·       Ask how long your data will be stored.

Good practice includes:

·       Clear privacy policies that are easy to understand.

·       Options in app settings to control notifications and certain data uses.

·       Secure methods for login and communication (e.g., passwords, PINs, two‑factor authentication where possible).

How data should be protected

Organizations handling your data should:

·       Store it in secure systems with access limited to authorised staff.

·       Use encryption where appropriate, especially for health information.

·       Avoid sending sensitive data over unsecured channels (e.g., open email or public chat groups).

·       Train staff about confidentiality and the consequences of breaches.

In research or reporting:

·       Data should be de‑identified (names and direct identifiers removed) when possible.

·       Any sharing with third parties should follow laws and ethical guidelines, and usually require explicit consent.

Your role as a user

You can help protect your own privacy by:

·       Not posting medical documents or full personal details in public spaces (e.g., public social media posts).

·       Using in‑app messaging and verified channels instead of sharing numbers everywhere.

·       Keeping your login details safe and logging out on shared devices.