Help save a life - give blood

Midlands residents are being asked to help save lives by donating blood to the South African National Blood Service (SANBS).

On May 9, Treverton School in Mooi River will be holding a blood donor clinic in the School Pavilion from 1pm to 4pm. The school is aiming to get 60 units of blood donated.

Nottingham Road Hotel is the next venue. They will be holding a clinic between 10.30am and 3.30pm on May 15.

Less than 1% of South Africans are active blood donors. A unit of blood only lasts 42 days after donation and, for this reason, it is important for blood donors to donate regularly. Donors can give blood as often as every eight weeks.

Every unit of blood can save a minimum of three lives as blood is separated into red blood cells, plasma and platelets.

SANBS aims to collect 3 000 units of blood per day to ensure a safe and sufficient blood supply in the health care system.

The minimum requirements to be a blood donor are that you are between the ages of 16 and 75 years old, for first time donors.

You need to weigh a minimum of 50kgs (and for platelets donations a minimum of 55kgs), be in good health and lead a low risk lifestyle.

Donors need to have had a balanced meal within four hours of donating blood and should not have donated blood in the last 56 days (and platelets in the last 14 days.)

A donor’s pulse rate needs to be between 60 and 100 regular beats per minute and blood pressure needs to be below 180 systolic (first number) and below

100 diastolic (second number) (180/100mmhg) and above 100 systolic (first number) and above 60 diastolic (second number) (100/60mmhg). The haemoglobin level is 12.g for females and 13.g for males/dl or above.

SANBS staff will do a screening test to ensure that your blood pressure and haemoglobin levels are within a safe range.

For more information go to https://sanbs.org.za/