June is national Blood Donor Month, but it’s also one of the toughest months for the South African National Blood Service (SANBS) as many people catch flu around this time and can’t donate blood.
June is national Blood Donor Month, but it’s also one of the toughest months for the South African National Blood Service (SANBS) as many people catch flu around this time and can’t donate blood.
Maryke Harris of the SANBS branch in Port Elizabeth says many schools and universities are also busy with exams or holidays now, so there’s all the more reason to lend your support to this non-profit organisation’s blood drive this Tuesday (11 June).
Although World Blood Donor Day is actually on Friday, Tuesday coincides with the regular drive that takes place at the Scout Hall on African Street every second Tuesday of the month.
Harris says people who haven’t given blood within the last 56 days (and who fit the criteria in the box below) are urged to help them reach their target of 73 units next week.
The drive will run from 1pm-6pm, and the donation process takes roughly half an hour.
After completing a questionnaire to determine if it is safe for you to donate blood, and discussing this with a registered nurse, you will undergo iron level and blood pressure tests.
After the questionnaire and tests approve you as a suitable donor, the blood donation process begins.
This process takes only 15 minutes.
As a non-profit organisation, the SANBS provides an essential service that is rated among the best in the world, in the provision of blood and blood products, research and training provided. SANBS is endorsed by the World Health Organisation (WHO), which has mandated that World Blood Donor Day be celebrated globally on 14 June every year.
In support of World Blood Donor Day, SANBS has marked June as Blood Donor Month as blood donations play a vital role in the provision of helping pregnant women, chronic patients, people involved in accidents and various other medical surgeries including cancer-related conditions.
World Blood Donor Day is significantly important this year, as it celebrates 10 years of lobbying for safe donation and blood products globally.
The WHO has adopted the slogan, 'Give the gift of life: donate blood’, focusing on raising awareness about the need for blood donations and safe blood, as well as to thank the voluntary blood donors for giving life-saving blood.
To donate blood you must:
• weigh 50kg or more
• be between the ages of 16 and 65 years
• enjoy good health
• lead a sexually safe lifestyle
Who benefits from donated blood?
• 27% general medical cases: e.g. Blood cancer treatment, HIV, anaemia treatments etc.
• 26% women who lose blood during childbirth and gynaecological cases
• 21% scheduled operations
• 10% paediatric cases (surgery involving the surgery of foetuses, infants, children, adolescents, and young adults).
• 6% orthopaedic cases (treatment of musculoskeletal trauma, sports injuries, degenerative diseases, infections, tumours, and congenital disorders)
• 6% research
• 4% trauma cases like vehicle accidents etc.
Fast facts:
• Studies show that 8 out of every 10 people will need donated blood at some point in their life.
• Only less than 1% of our 50 million+ population donate blood.
• A single unit of blood can save up to three lives
• A brand-new sterile needle is used for every donation and discarded through incineration afterwards.
• SANBS does not pay people for donating their blood.
• SANBS holds various blood collection drives at workplaces, schools, churches, shopping centres, community centres and various other institutions.
