Not a blood donor? Please consider becoming one
Donating blood is fast but the impact of your donation can save three lives, each time.
It is not uncommon for the South African National Blood Service (SANBS) to call for urgent donations, yet few people heed the call.
“It may be because people do not realise the importance of donating blood as they have luckily never been in a position to need it. Many people are also scared to give blood, so they don’t come,” said Kgomotso Marokoane, SANBS clinic manager, during a blood drive at the Caxton Media offices in Craighall.
The Northcliff Melville Times witnessed the process with two colleagues, who were regular donors, during the drive and asked them to share what the experience was like.
Mirriam Mpshe said she ‘donates often and has been doing so since 1998’. Next to her was Dineo Motlalehi, she expressed her ‘fear of needles but the process is quick and not at all painful’.
The process did not look painful nor uncomfortable as they laid back on the beds and chatted animatedly about the impact their blood might have on someone who needs it.
Marokoane explained how just one unit of blood can save three lives by being separated into red cells, platelets, and plasma. These elements are critical for the many conditions people suffer from that require emergency intervention. Some of the more common are car crash victims, mothers who have haemorrhaged during childbirth, cancer patients and even elective surgeries that experience complications.
Mpshe and Motlalehi were out the door in 20 minutes and looked forward to eating the biscuit they had received when they got back to their desks.
The SANBS encourages men and women between the ages of 16 and 75, who lead a healthy lifestyle and consider their blood safe for donation, to please call 011 761 9000 to find their closest donation centre or to ask any questions.
Alternatively, if you would like to host a blood drive, all the details can be found at www.sanbs.org.za/blood-drives.
Closest SANBS walk-in centres:
- Colony Shopping Centre, 349 Jan Smuts Avenue, Craighall
- Linksfield Donor Centre, 110 Linksfield Road, Linksfield
- Greenstone Donor Centre, Cnr Modderfontein Road and Van Riebeeck Avenue, Modderfontein
- Fourways Donor Centre, 11 Sunset Avenue, Sandton.
Related Article:
