By taking part in this initiative people have an opportunity to help to save someone’s life.
From its 87 fixed donor centres the SANBS collects over one million units of blood annually, as well as daily blood drives that are managed by 100 mobile teams.
A total of 3 000 units of blood is required every day in order to meet the daily demands of patients in need of transfusions.
The units that are collected are separated into three different parts: red blood cells, platelets and plasma.
According to Terrence Pillay, SANBS public relations practitioner in Benoni, the blood supply is sitting at 1.5 days and if blood is not donated in order to build up a four to five day stock, the country’s supply will run dry.
There have been cases where hospitals have put surgery on hold due to a shortage of blood supply and this is the outcome of people not donating blood.
During the months of June and July, the percentage of blood donations drops because of the winter season, as well as people being ill.
The SANBS relies on the blood collected from high school and tertiary institutions and when schools are closed the amount of blood that is donated also decreases.
SANBS National communications manager Vanessa Raju said: “There is no better way to honour the life and spirit of a man who epitomised the precious value of life than to donate blood and save the lives of accident victims, mothers in labour, cancer patients and thousands others.”
Requirements to become a blood donor:
- You must be between the ages of 16 to 65.
- You must weigh over 50kg.
- You must be in good health and practice safe sex.
- You should eat four hours before you donate blood.
You can donate blood at the Northmead Blood Donor Centre, at 42 14th Avenue, Northmead.
They can be reached on 011 425 4943.
