Are you curious about donating blood? Find out all you need to know here
Donating blood is a simple, painless procedure which saves thousands of lives worldwide every year.
June 14 is World Blood Donor Day and the South African National Blood Service (SANBS) will be out in full force encouraging people to donate between June 11 and 18 as part of their #MissingType campaign.
I want to donate
You may be eager to offer others the gift of life but may have questions about the process, where your blood will be used or even whether you are eligible to donate.
SANBS’s website www.sanbs.org.za offers the following answers.
Also read: Springsites reveal if they are blood donors
The minimum requirements to be a blood donor are:
• You are between the ages of 16 and 65 years old, for first-time donors.
• You weigh a minimum of 50kg (and for platelet donation a minimum of 55kg).
• You are in good health.
• You lead a low-risk lifestyle.
• You consider your blood safe for transfusion.
• You have had a balanced meal within four hours of donating blood.
• You have not donated blood in the last 56 days (and platelets in the last 14 days.)
• Your pulse is between 50-100 regular beats per minute.
• Your blood pressure is below 180 systolic (first number) and below 100 diastolic (second number) (180/100mmHg) and above 100/60mmHg.
• Your haemoglobin level is 12.5 g/dL or above.
If you are not sure what your blood pressure and haemoglobin levels are you need not worry as the test done at the donor centre will indicate to staff whether you are within a safe range to donate.
Also read: Springs Donor Centre gears up for World Blood Donor month
Blood types
The differences in human blood are due to the presence or absence of certain protein molecules called antigens and antibodies.
The antigens are located on the surface of the red blood cells and the antibodies are in the blood plasma.
Individuals have different types and combinations of these molecules.
The blood group you belong to depends on what you have inherited from your parents.
To date, more than 20 genetically determined blood group systems exist, but the ABO and Rh blood group systems are the most important ones used for blood transfusions.
Not all blood groups are compatible with each other and mixing incompatible blood groups leads to blood clumping, or agglutination, which is dangerous for individuals.
All donors belong to one of four blood groups: A, B, AB or O.
You are also classified as either Rh positive or Rh negative and there are thus eight different main blood groups.
Group O blood is known as the universal blood type, as it can be given to patients of any blood group.
Who can my blood help?
Here is a breakdown of who your blood can help as well as whose blood would save your life:
• If you are A+ you can donate to A+ or AB+. You can receive from A+, O+, A- and O-.
• People with A- can donate to A=, A-, AB+, and AB-. Accept blood from A- or O-.
• Those with B+ can donate to B+ and AB+, and receive from B+, O+, B- and O-.
• B- can donate to B+ and AB+, and receive from O- or B-.
• If you have AB+ blood you can help those with AB+ blood but you are one of the lucky few who can accept blood from everyone.
• Those with AB- can donate to AB+ and AB-, and receive from A-, B-, AB- or )l.
• Carrying O+ blood? Donate to A+, O+, B+ or AB+, but you can only receive blood from O+ and )-.
• If you are O- you are a universal donor who can give their blood to everyone, Unfortunately, you can only receive blood from a fellow )-.
What does this mean in real terms?
On Monday the SANBS’s website stated that nationally the blood supply in stock was enough for three days.
This was further broken down into how much of each blood type they had in stock showing these results:
• A+ 86 per cent capacity.
• A- 80 per cent.
• B+ 76 per cent.
• B- 46 per cent.
• AB+ 100 per cent.
•AB- 38 per cent.
• O+ 62 per cent.
• O- 52 per cent.
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