10 minutes can save 3 lives
TODAY is World Blood Donor Day and the South African National Blood Services has appealed for donations.
Elize Scheepers, the head of donor relations in the Eastern Cape, said while they were not in a terrible crisis they were still in need.
“June is a month where we are generally low and that is why it is great that World Blood Donor Day is in June,” Scheepers said.
“We run low in June because of exams and holidays, as well as people being sick with colds and flu – they cannot give blood.”
She urged people to become regular donors.
“People can donate blood every 56 days, or eight weeks.
“That will ensure we have a steady flow of blood available.
“We take 480ml of blood per session and that 10 minutes in the chair can save up to three lives,” she said.
Scheepers said they neither charged nor paid donors for the blood.
“That way people are not bribed into donating and they have no reason to lie on the forms filled in,” she explained.
Anyone who is healthy, between the ages of 16 and 65 and weighs upward of 50kg can donate blood.
Donors must eat at least four hours before donating blood.
Pregnant and breastfeeding women are not allowed to donate.
Scheepers said one in three people were blood group O, which could be donated to all the other blood types, hence the need for this blood type.
“Currently, countrywide we have enough group O blood for 3.6 days.
“In an ideal world we would like to have enough for five days,” she added.
Members of the public can donate blood at:
● Vincent Park mall, 11am to 6pm (old Bridal Shop near Woolworths and Cell C);
● Mthatha Plaza mall, 9am to 5pm;
● Beacon Bay donor centre, 10am to 6pm (next to Virgin Active, Beacon Bay Crossing);
● Berea donor centre, 10am to 6pm (25 Pearce Street, Berea);
● Mdantsane City mall, 10am to 5pm. — dispatch.co.za