Urgent call for blood donations as stock levels continue to drop

When you think of all the times you’ve done little to almost nothing for at least 30 minutes in your day, it would probably add up to a few hours.

Now did you know that it takes only 30 minutes to donate blood?

From completing the forms, to having the necessary tests and checks, and finally, to having one pint of blood taken.

Blood donation is a quick, easy and relatively painless process and an urgent call has been made for eligible donors to play their part in saving lives by attending one of the upcoming blood drives in Ballito.

The monthly South African National Blood Service (SANBS) donor drive at Ballito Library does not usually draw a large crowd.

Last month however saw a massive spike in donations, so much so that the clinic ran out of donation kits before the 6pm cut off.

The queue was out the door with 140 people arriving and 104 people eligible to donate.

This followed the news of a fatal accident on the M4 involving a Salt Rock mom who desperately needed blood due to her extensive injuries, rare blood type and a severe blood shortage.

Kerry Hardy (36) was in urgent need of O-negative blood, one of the rarest – thankfully she received the life giving donations and is still in hospital on a long road to recovery.

But despite the community spreading the word about the shortage, SANBS currently only have enough blood in stock for 2.2 days, and a mere 0.1 days for blood platelets.

These numbers could, however, change drastically if everyone took just 30 minutes out of their day to regularly visit one of the blood drives scheduled in the upcoming weeks:

• IPSS Medical Rescue will be hosting a blood drive on Saturday, September 29 from 9am – 3pm at Unit 7, Wow Park, 2 Gourly Road.
• Make your way to the Ballito Library every second Tuesday for the SANBS blood clinic from 10am to 6pm. The next drive will take place on October 9.
• Netcare Alberlito Hospital will host a blood drive on Wednesday, October 24 from 9am – 3pm at the first floor foyer.

According to SANBS, less than one per cent of South Africans are active blood donors.

A unit of blood only lasts 42 days after donation and, for this reason, it is important for blood donors to donate regularly.

Minimum Requirements to be a Blood Donor:

• You are between the ages of 16 and 65 years old, for first time donors.
• You weigh a minimum of 50 kgs (and platelets a minimum of 55 kgs)
• 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 50-100 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 12.5 g/dL or above.

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