SANBS appeals for blood donations to help save lives
Blood donation gives patients a second chance with their loved ones and gives them another holiday to remember and another birthday celebration.
The South African National Blood Service (SANBS) is facing severe blood stock shortages and is appealing to potential and existing blood donors to donate.
This comes as current weather conditions and a higher-than-usual demand for blood have sent blood stocks plummeting.
SANBS needs to collect 3 500 units of blood a day and those wanting to donate are urged to visit a SANBS blood donation site to donate their precious unit of blood.
“With little blood available on hand, this will have a severe impact on the patients who rely on life-saving blood transfusions.
“Whenever our blood stocks reach below three days, it places the lives of patients at risk. This includes the lives of haemorrhaging mothers, newborn babies, accident victims, and thousands of other patients in need of a blood transfusion,” said SANBS senior manager for marketing and communication, Thandi Mosupye.
She added that each blood donation gives patients a second chance with their loved ones and gives them another holiday to remember and another birthday celebration.
To become a blood donor, one must:
• Be between the ages of 16 and 75 years
• Weigh 50kg or more
• Be in good health
• Lead a healthy lifestyle
• Consider your blood safe for transfusion to a patient
• Commit to donating blood regularly
For more info, or to find a donor centre near you, visit https://sanbs.org.za/.
