Donate blood at Secunda Mall on Youth Day as part of the Arrested, Blood Requested Drive

SECUNDA – Residents are called to help set free “detainees” who will be held in arrest at the Secunda Mall on Saturday, 16 June.

These “detainees” are volunteers in the annual Arrested, Blood Requested Drive held by the Teksa branch of the South African National Blood Services (SANBS).

In lieu with June being World Blood Donor Month and also being the month in which South Africa celebrates its youth, young people are also asked to heed the call to become blood donors.

“We need new blood. The fact is that our regular donors are growing older and we need young people to donate and become regular donors,” said Ms Dot Prinsloo, donor relations practitioner of SANBS.

The Arrested, Blood Requested Drive taking place on Youth Day, will begin at 9am and last until 3pm.

Each “detainee” must find 10 people to donate blood before that person will be set free. The target set for that day is 150 units of blood.

There is currently a huge shortage of blood in the country. Stock for O type blood is only enough for two more days.

The most blood is used for people needing surgery, during child births and cancer patients.

“One out of every four people will need blood during their life time. This is a shocking fact, because only about one per cent of the country’s population is regular donors,” said Ms Prinsloo. One unit of blood can save three lives.

People who want to donate blood, must be between 16 and 65 years old, weigh more than 50kg, be in good health, lead a safe sexual lifestyle and consider their blood safe for transfusion to a patient.

The Arrested, Blood Requested events are usually a lot of fun for everyone.

Ms Prinsloo said this year will be no exception. Donors are in for a lot of laughs, lucky draws and good company.