Donate blood this Valentine’s month
JOBURG - February is the month of love, but at the South African National Blood Service love is celebrated every month. With an unselfish act of donating blood and sharing the love of the human race, you can make a difference to the lives of patients you may never know.
All eligible donors are encouraged to share their liquid love this month and commit to donating blood a minimum of four times a year. It’s not too late to make this your resolution for 2014. As a gesture to say thank you, the blood service has a special gift for those who donate four units in a calendar year.
“With schools, universities and organisations all back to usual operation we are able to maintain a good blood stock level especially with the help of donors. However we know that this can change on any given day if our daily collection of 3000 units is not met,” said Vanessa Raju, communications manager at the South African National Blood Service.
All blood groups are very important. However Group O is the group that is often in short supply. The demand for this is much higher as it can be used for patients of all other blood groups.
In order to become a blood donor you must:
q Weigh at least 50kg
q Be between the ages of 16 and 65
q Lead a safe sexual lifestyle
q Be in general good health, and
q Consider your blood safe for transfusion to a patient.
Details: 0800 11 90 31, customerservice@sanbs.org.za or www.sanbs.org.za
