Take selfie donating blood and save lives

THE South African Blood Service (SANBS) has this year dedicated part of the festive season blood drive to Bianca Agherdien, an Eastern Cape woman who died last year following a car crash.

A blood donor herself, Agherdien needed 39 blood products during her hospital stay, with her family starting a Facebook page to plead for assistance.

People responded in their numbers, with others giving support, pledging their blood or sharing pictures of themselves donating blood.

So successful was the message that the family, together with the blood service, decided to continue using Bianca’s name to spread the message.

Blood service public relations practitioner Rene Vice said taking part was easy.

“All people need to do is to get themselves down to their nearest centre, fill out a form and take a selfie of themselves giving blood. The pictures can be loaded onto the Facebook page Bianca’s Blood Drive,” she said.

With the festive season blood drive kicking off on Monday, Vice said their supply was already showing signs of strain.

“Companies and schools are closing so we will have blood donation centres set up in the various shopping centres around town so after people are done with their shopping, they can pop in to give blood,” she said.

Members of the public will also have an opportunity to show love for their favourite Algoa FM DJ in the “Battle of the DJs” contest.

Listeners will give blood for their favourite show or DJ, with each DJ fighting to get the most donations.

The DJs may also give blood to increase their chances of securing more donations.

According to Vice, schools need to be commended for the amount of blood contributed throughout the year, with Selborne College leading the pack.

After four drives at the school and a target of 257 units to be met, Vice said the school surpassed this by bringing in a total of 284 units.

More than 30 schools within East London and King William’s Town also participated.

The blood service will also be holding school big bleeds on December 5 and 10 at King William’s Town and Berea respectively.

The festive season drive will run from November 15 to January 15. — zisandan@dispatch.co.za