Blood drive at Kuswag today

In light of the dire need to increase blood stocks, a blood drive is being held at Kuswag Skool today (Saturday, 15 September) from 9am to 2pm.

The South African National Blood Service’s (SANBS) current blood stock is at 3.2 days.

Donating a unit of this precious gift saves those in dire need of blood. Thousands of patients would die daily if there was insufficient quality blood in stock. A unit of blood can save up to three lives as blood is separated into red blood cells, plasma and platelets.

Currently, only one in every approximate 140 people are blood donors. This means South Africa is almost always close to running out of blood stocks, placing thousands of lives at risk.

Minimum requirements to be a blood donor:

• Be between the ages of 16 and 65-years-old, for first time donors.
• Weigh a minimum of 50kgs (and platelets a minimum of 55kgs)
• Be in good health.
• Lead a low-risk lifestyle.
• Consider your blood safe for transfusion.
• Eat a balanced meal within four hours of donating blood.
• Wait 56 days before donating blood again (and platelets in the last 14 days)
• Have a pulse of 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).
• Have a haemoglobin level of 12.5 g/dL or above.

The SANBS screening test ensures your blood pressure and haemoglobin levels are within a safe range for you to donate.