If you’ve never done it before, blood donation can seem a little scary. Some people may be anxious about the pain of donating blood, worried over the safety measures in place for donors, concerned over the time it takes to donate blood, or the costs involved.

The truth is that donating blood is no more painful than a skin prick as the needle is inserted; after that, it may feel like a dull ache at worst as the blood flows.

The materials used for blood donation, including the needle, blood bags, tubes, and finger prick needle, are new, sterile, and disposable, making blood donation safe.

Donating blood won’t take longer than an hour and 15 minutes, from the time you arrive until you leave, and won’t cost you a cent, either.

The blood donation process in five steps is:

Step 1: Eat a meal four hours before going to the donor centre

 Step 2: Completion of donor questionnaire

 Step 3: Interview with SANBS nurse

 Step 4: Blood pressure, blood iron levels, and weight measured

 Step 5: Give blood 

According to the South African National Blood Service (SANBS), due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the Service has seen a sharp decline in its blood stocks.

As such, SANS is urging South Africans to register as blood donors.

To assist SANBS’s quest to collect more units of blood, Affinity Enterprises, through its CSI initiative, The 100% Foundation, regularly hosts blood drives across the country.

To find the location of SANBS blood donation centres closest to you, click here. Or you may consider motivating your employer to host a blood drive at your offices for the convenience of all staff members.