Save a life by donating blood

Severe blood loss can lead to a number of complications and result in death.

June highlights and celebrates the millions of people worldwide who give their blood voluntarily to help those in need.

This National Blood Donor Month, ER24 thanks blood donors for their gift of life and urges others to donate if they are eligible to do so.

As an emergency medical service provider, ER24 paramedics see first hand the effect severe blood loss has on patients in both trauma and medical-related cases.

Speaking about some of the incidents he has attended, Derrick Banks, ER24 Hillcrest branch manager says, “Each situation and patient is different. We attend to patients injured in collisions, people injured after falling from a height and patients who are shot or stabbed, for example.”

Banks stresses it is vital that a patient with severe blood loss receive immediate emergency care.

“Blood carries oxygen and other essential substances to organs and tissues.

“Hypovolemic shock, also known as hemorrhagic shock, is a life-threatening condition that occurs when a person loses more than 20% of their blood or fluid supply.

“This makes it impossible for the heart to pump sufficient blood to the body and as a result, a patient risks organ failure or death.”

Banks himself is a blood donor and has just donated his 50th unit of blood.

By donating just one unit of blood, which is 480ml, you can help save up to three lives.

There are certain requirements for those wanting to donate blood.

Donors must be between the ages of 16 and 65, be a minimum weight of 50kg, be in good health and live a sexually safe lifestyle.

A health questionnaire is given to a potential donor and blood bank personnel will guide them through the process.

It is vital to be completely honest when answering the questionnaire.