The South African National Blood Service (SANBS) is facing severe blood shortages and Dot Prinsloo, spokesman of the Teksa branch, urged the community to donate blood.
She said the current weather conditions and a higher demand than usual sent the stock levels plummeting.
The SANBS needs to collect 3 500 units of blood daily.
Thandi Mosupye, SANBS’s senior manager of marketing and communications, said with little blood available on hand, it 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,” said Mosupye.
“The lives of haemorrhaging mothers, new born babies, accident victims, and thousands of other patients in need of a blood transfusion are at stake.”
Each blood donation gives patients a second chance with their loved ones.
To become a blood donor you must be between 16 and 75 years old, weight 50kg or more, be in good health, lead a healthy lifestyle, consider your blood safe for transfusion to a patient and commit to donating blood regularly.
Visit the Teksa branch of the SANBS in Horwood Street or the Bethal branch near Spar.
