Why you need to ‘bank’ your blood
A unit of blood has more than one life saving use and can save up to three people's lives.
HE South African National Blood Service (Sanbs) is a non-profit organisation, the key purpose of which is to save patients’ lives by providing safe, sufficient and good quality blood products and medical services related to blood transfusion in an equitable and cost effective manner. Sanbs operates across South Africa, with the exception of the Western Cape.
The Sanbs is tasked with the daily collecting, transporting, testing and storing blood required for patients. For this reason, the service charges a fee which depends on the blood product required and other operating costs. It is important to note that the Sanbs does not sell blood to patients but provides a service that ensures that all government and private hospitals meet their daily blood needs.
Everyone who is eligible is encouraged to donate blood to help save lives. Every unit of blood is vital and once tested and deemed safe for transfusion is separated into red blood cells, platelets and plasma. Therefore a unit of blood has more than one life saving use and can save up to three people’s lives.
Research has shown that Sanbs requires more regular blood donors to consistently meet the country’s demand for blood. Regular donors are required to donate blood every 56 days therefore donating three to four times a year. Regular blood donors are the safest donors, simply because they become more familiar with donor requirements and gain a better understanding of Sanbs’s education processes and ultimately have an awareness of what risky behaviour entails.
To become a donor, you need to:
* Be between the ages of 16 and 65 years
* Weigh more than 50 kg
* Be in good health
* Live a sexually safe lifestyle
To find your nearest donor centre, contact 0800 11 9031 | www.sanbs.org.za | Facebook.com/SANBS | Twitter @theSANBS
