Pull up your sleeves, it’s World Blood Donor Day
To motivate regular, seasoned and first time donors, these are the frequently asked questions answered by the South African National Blood Service.
IN recognition of the selfless unsung heroes who pull up their sleeves to give the gift of life, Friday, 14 June is World Blood Donor Day. Aimed at raising awareness and encouraging others to give blood, the global event is championed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) which advocates blood donation and universal access to safe blood transfusion. This year’s theme is safe blood for all.
According to WHO, the day and the theme is also a call to action to all governments, national health authorities and national blood services to provide adequate resources and put in place systems and infrastructures to increase collection of blood from voluntary, regular unpaid blood donors. It is also to provide quality donor care, promote and implement appropriate clinical use of blood, and to set up systems for the oversight and surveillance on the whole chain of blood transfusion.
To motivate regular, seasoned and first time donors, these are the frequently asked questions answered by the South African National Blood Service.
WHO: If you are between the ages of 16 and 75, weigh more than 50kg, lead a sexually safe lifestyle, and think that your blood is safe for donation, you can go to an SANBS clinic and register as a blood donor.
WHAT: From conception, blood fulfils a life giving and nurturing role. Blood is the fluid of growth, transporting nourishment from digestion and hormones from glands throughout the body. Blood is the fluid of health, transporting disease fighting substances to the tissue and body waste to the kidneys. If it was not for blood donors, life-saving medical treatment for children with life threatening anaemia, trauma victims, women with pregnancy related complications, organ transplants, bone marrow transplants, complicated surgical procedures and cancer treatments would not be possible.
WHY: The simplest reason is to help save the lives of patients in need of blood transfusions. Just knowing that your one unit of blood can save up to three lives is a rewarding enough feeling. Every unit of blood once tested and is deemed safe for transfusion is separated into red blood cells, platelets and plasma.
WHEN: There is a waiting period of 56 days after your last donation, this is to ensure that there’s been enough time to regenerate red cells. Regular donations are encouraged as SANBS has found that its regular donors are its safest donors. Regular donors are familiar with the danger of the window period and know what risk behaviour entails. A regular donor is someone who has made three or more donations in a year.
HOW: As a donor, you have to complete a donor questionnaire on your health and lifestyle. The questions are asked to ensure that it is safe for you to donate blood and that your blood is safe for a patient to receive. A finger prick test will also be done to check your iron levels. Your blood pressure will also be checked, to ensure you are fit to donate. About 480 ml of blood is then drawn from your arm, by law this is all one is allowed to donate.
WHERE: The South Durban basin has various branches, to find your nearest, visit wwww.sanbs.co.za or call 080-011-9031 to find a centre near you or to book a private blood drive.
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