Bloody business!

South Africa is currently running out of blood.

That sounds crazy, especially when people are walking around full of blood that they could share.

Well … maybe not everybody can share their blood because there are conditions prescribed as far as sharing blood goes.

However, it’s seriously scary, because one never knows when you might be in a situation where you need safe blood.

What is “safe blood”?

It’s blood that is free from HIV, Hepatitis B and C and syphilis – these can easily be transmitted through transfusion.

If you are fit and healthy please consider donating, you never know when you yourself might need a blood transfusion.

In South Africa, every unit of blood that is collected goes through stringent testing to ensure that it is safe.

So how much of your precious lifeblood do they take?

Only 480ml.

It’s less than 10 per cent of the total blood volume of an adult.

Most adults have between 4.5 and 5 litres of blood in their bodies.

The lost fluid is replaced in the body within 36 hours.

However, if you weigh less than 50kg you’re not allowed to donate because you don’t actually have enough blood to spare.

You are, by law, not allowed to give blood more than every 56 days.

This means that a person would only give three or four times a year.

Not too much to ask really, is it?

In South Africa, people between the age of 16 and 65 are allowed to give blood – if they are fit and healthy.

There’s a questionnaire that has to be completed, regarding your health and lifestyle.

A finger prick test is done to check iron levels before donating.

Blood pressure is also checked to make sure that people are actually healthy enough to donate.

Remember, you need to eat and drink enough fluid (not alcohol) before donating.

Of course, if you’ve had flu or have been sick in the last few days you are not allowed to donate because it would be bad for you.

Also, if you have been to the dentist or had surgery recently, you could also be excluded.

Recent body piercings and tattoos would kick you out of the system too.

Don’t even think about trying to share your blood if you have had malaria – then you have to wait for three whole years before you can donate again.

For more information on giving blood – go to https://www.sanbs.org.za/

Give people!

It might save lives!

Blood is life.

Sibo.