SANBS calls for blood donation

THE South African National Blood Service (SANBS) is facing severe blood-stock shortages.

SANBS said the current weather and a higher-than-usual demand for blood have sent blood stocks plummeting.

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Thandi Mosupye, SANBS marketing senior manager, said the blood service needs to collect 3 500 units of blood a day and is urgently appealing to all potential and existing blood donors due to donate to visit an SANBS blood-donation site.

“With little blood available on hand, this will severely impact the patients who rely on life-saving blood transfusions.

“Whenever our blood stocks reach below three days, it places the lives of patients at risk – the lives of haemorrhaging mothers, newborn babies, accident victims, and thousands of other patients in need of a blood transfusion,” said Mosupye.

She added that each blood donation gives patients a second chance with their loved ones. “Another Christmas to remember, another summer holiday at the beach, another birthday celebration.”

To find out more about where you can donate blood, visit www.sanbs.org.za or call 0800 11 90 31. Connect with them on Twitter (@theSANBS), Facebook (@SANBS) and Instagram (@thesanbs).

To become a blood donor, you must:

· Be between the ages of 16 and 75 years
· Weigh 50kg or more
· Be in good health
· Lead a healthy lifestyle
· Consider your blood safe for transfusion to a patient
· Hopefully commit to donating blood regularly

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