Support mobile blood drives and save a life
Every unit of blood is separated into red blood cells, plasma and platelets and can save a minimum of three lives.
The South African National Blood Service (SANBS) holds regular mobile blood drives in Delmas.
Streeknuus met up with the unit at the Willowbrooke Square shopping centre where friendly and helpful personnel assisted local donors on Friday, September 23.
In the chair was a relaxed Thembisa Ncumbe.
“I am a regular donor and I do it to help others in need of blood,” she said.
One of the attendants told Streeknuus that the blood drives do very well in Delmas and that SANBS gets great support from the residents.
According to SANBS, less than 1% 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 regularly donate.
Donors can give blood as often as every eight weeks. Every unit of blood is separated into red blood cells, plasma and platelets and can save a minimum of three lives.
“Which is wonderful considering the whole process takes only about 30 minutes.
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“Your platelets can be used for a cancer patient, plasma to replace clotting factors in a trauma patient and your red blood cells for patients who needed surgery or suffered complications during childbirth,” SANBS wrote on their online platform.
According to SANBS, they supply over one million blood products annually and are rated among the top blood services in the world.
“This pedigree comes as a result of world-class testing and collection protocols which ensure that the blood which is transfused is always top quality.”
SANBS aims to collect 3000 units of blood per day to ensure a safe and sufficient blood supply in the health care system.
