Donate blood during winter
The South African National Blood Service (SANBS) is urging community members to make every day a Mandela Day, and to become regular blood donors.
SANBS’s current blood stocks are at a critical level, and they are experiencing low collections due to schools and universities being on holiday, as well as the cold weather conditions.
The SANBS needs to collect 3 000 units of blood a day to meet the demand and, since the start of the winter holidays, they have not been able to achieve this.
One unit of blood can save up to three lives and donors can donate every 56 days.
The minimum requirements for a donor are:
* be between the ages of 16 and 65 years,
* weigh more than 50kg,
* be in good health, and
* live a sexually safe lifestyle.
All SANBS centres will be operating until 6pm during the first three weeks of July.
To find your nearest donor centre call 0800 11 9031, visit www.sanbs.org.za, or find the SANBS on Facebook or Twitter.
