Be a hero, donate blood to those in need
FOURWAYS – Here's some handy information about how you can make a difference by donating blood to SANBS.
Twenty minutes lying down with a needle in your arm could save the lives of up to three people in need, so why not donate blood for a good cause?
The Fourways Review recently brought you the story of Natalie Beveridge, who’s son Keiran died at only a few months old after being diagnosed with AML leukaemia in 2018 (Your blood could be someone’s saving grace’ published Week ending 7 February). Although losing their child was absolute agony for the family, Natalie is grateful for the blood donations that kept Keiran alive for his last few weeks.
“On 1 August [2018] the doctors confirmed that he had cancer,” Natalie said. “From the day he was diagnosed he needed to receive donations of blood and platelets.
“Waiting for blood to be available was excruciating, sometimes we’d need to wait 12 hours. I was helpless, I couldn’t cure his disease but I could encourage people who wanted to support us to go donate blood.”
Since Keiran’s passing, Natalie has regularly organised blood donation drives in the Dainfern area. But you don’t need an organised event to give the gift of life.
Here is some information from the South African National Blood Service (SANBS) on donating blood:
Who can donate:
- The first time you donate, you need to be between 16 and 75 years old
- For blood donations, you need to weigh at least 50kg, and to donate plasma you must be 55kg or more
- You must be in good health, lead a low-risk lifestyle and believe your blood is safe for transfusion
- You must have eaten a balanced meal within four hours of donating
- Your pulse should be between 50–100 regular beats per minute.
- Your blood pressure should be below 180 systolic (first number) and below 100 diastolic (second number) (180/100mmHg) and above 100 systolic (first number) and above 60 diastolic (second number) (100/60mmHg).
- Your haemoglobin level should be 12.5 g/dL or above.
There are a number of donor centres around South Africa. The ones closest to the Fourways area are:
- Fourways Donor Centre, 11 Sunset Ave, Sandton, South Africa Shop G1-08, Forest Road Design and Decor. This centre is open Mondays to Saturdays
Tel: 011 465 6441.
- Northgate Donor Centre, Shop No 609 Northgate Shopping Centre. This centre is open Mondays to Saturdays Tel: 011 761 9325
Details: Keiran Kicking Cancer Facebook page; SANBS www.sanbs.org.za; 0800 119 031.
ALSO READ: We need South Africans to bolster the national blood stock, says SA National Blood Service
