Help save a life this festive season
South African National Blood Transfusion Service is calling on the public to spare some time out of their day and give the gift of life.
WITH the high number of accidents and many people booking their surgeries during the holidays, the South African National Blood Services (SANBS) Specialised Collections has appealed to people to donate blood, platelets and plasma.
The unit, situated at the Westwood Mall Shopping Centre, was officially launched in February 2022.
The multidisciplinary clinic has recently introduced hyperimmune plasma donation.
Also read: World Blood Donor Day – SANBS responds to most frequently asked questions
Speaking to Sister Lalitha Baichan, she said for people to donate blood, they need to lead a healthy lifestyle.
“We screen the patient before they donate, and there is a questionnaire. Donors needs to be truthful as if the blood is not safe, it can make a patient very ill.
“The donor needs to have a meal before making a donation.”
Baichan emphasised that the demand for blood is very high at this time of the year. She urged the public to consider donating platelets and plasma. Platelets are small, colourless cell fragments circulating in the blood. When a blood vessel is injured, platelets collect at the site and form a plug to stop bleeding.
Also read: Blood buddy makes 300th donation
“Plasma makes up 55% of your total blood volume and contains antibodies, clotting factors and proteins. Platelets and plasma donations can be done every two weeks and whole blood donation every 56 days. The body recovers those cells very quickly,” she said.
Without a platelet transfusion, Baichan said cancer patients face life-threatening bleeding because platelets help blood to clot. Platelets also help patients survive major surgeries or serious injuries.
“After major surgery or serious injury, patients may need platelets to replace those lost during bleeding.”
For many people with rare diseases and chronic conditions, plasma-based therapies are the only way to treat their condition or disease.
“Plasma is also given to trauma patients and burn victims to help with blood clotting and to boost their blood volume, which can prevent and treat shock,” she said.
The clinic is open seven days a week and only closes on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
It is open on weekdays from 08:00 to 17:00 and on Saturdays from 07:00 to 15:00, and on Sundays and public holidays, the clinic is open from 09:00 to 15:00. Contact 031 719 6841.
Who can donate?
• if you are between the ages of 16 and 75 years old for blood and 18 and 75 for platelets and plasma
• you weigh a minimum of 50kg (and platelets, a minimum of 55 kg)
• you are in good health
• you lead a low-risk lifestyle
• you consider your blood safe for transfusion
• you have had a balanced meal within four hours of donating blood
• you have not donated blood in the last 56 days (and platelets in the last 14 days)
• your pulse is between 60 to 100 regular beats per minute.
• your blood pressure is 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 is 12.g for females and 13.g for males/dL or above.
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