Who can donate blood?
The SANBS encourages the community to donate blood, but who can donate?
The South African National Blood Service (SANBS) encourages the community to donate blood and save lives, as donor centres remain open during lockdown.
The universal access to safe blood is the lifeline for the healthcare system of any nation.
As South Africans, we can all be proud of our dedicated and selfless voluntary donors who regularly donate blood to save lives of thousands of our people every year.
But who can donate to this cause?
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Minimum requirements to be a blood donor:
• You are between the ages of 16 and 65 years old, for first-time donors.
• You weigh a minimum of 50kg (and platelets 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 and 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 systolic (first number) and above 60 diastolic (second number) (100/60mmHg).
• Your haemoglobin level is 12.5g/dL or above.
“Our screening test ensures that your blood pressure and haemoglobin levels are within a safe range for you to donate,” said the SANBS.
Please ask for more information if:
• You have had surgery in the last six months or are due for an operation within the next six weeks.
• You are pregnant or breastfeeding your baby.
• You are on medication such as antibiotics
• You have travelled from, or have travelled to, a malaria area.
• You have had cancer, heart disease, epilepsy, a bleeding disorder or any other chronic medical condition.
• You are involved in a “hazardous” occupation or sport, such as operating heavy machinery, flying a plane, scuba diving, working at heights, etc.
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