Every year on the 14th June the world comes together to celebrate and show appreciation to those who make a difference in people’s lives through blood donation.
This day not only serves to thank voluntary (unpaid) donors for their gift of blood to save life but also to raise awareness of the importance and need for regular blood donations to ensure quality safety and availability of blood for patients in need.
This year’s theme focuses on blood donations as an act of solidarity with the slogan “be there for someone else”, Give blood share life because after all blood connects us all.
According to South African National Blood Service (SANBS) less than 1% of the South African population are active blood donors. A unit of blood only lasts 42 days after donation and for that reason, it is important to donate regularly.
“An active donor is someone who donates after every eight week”
Every unit of blood can save a minimum of three lives meaning that a single person can save at least three lives in one blood donation.
Generally one can donate blood if they are healthy in a sense that they feel well and can perform normal activities. However people under the age of 16, underweight (50kg is the minimum), has low blood pressure, being under a certain medication or recently visited a malaria area, undergone a surgery or gotten a tattoo are prohibited from blood donating.
Risky behaviours such as having unprotected sex with multiple partners or injecting yourself with drugs means you have been on risk of contracting transmissible infections such as HIV and Hepatitis B and C and cannot donate blood.
SANBS encourages all South Africans to support its endeavours to recruit regular blood donors who make lasting connections with their fellow citizens in need.
According to the EDU CONNECT a blood transfusion takes place every 48 seconds in South Africa.
SAMBS spokes person interviewed in a newspaper interview last year said, “a shortage of blood hinders our ability to save hundreds of lives daily because, because without adequate supply, essential treatment for various patients cannot occur”.
A huge portion of blood donors in South Africa are university students maybe because people do not know where to go to donate blood however SANBS has permanent blood donation areas around the local areas as well as temporary mobile clinics at universities hospitals, and public spaces.
Donating blood only takes about 30min and it is said to be free and painless. Here are some general routine;
- Eat before going to donate
- At the station you will be required to complete a questionnaire about your everyday lifestyle
- A small needle will be placed into your arm by a skilled professional UF
- You will be required to donate a unit of blood which is (480ml’s) which your body will regenerate within 24 hours.
- You will be given a drink and a snack after donating which helps with a light headache you may feel
After donating tips
- Eat well and increase your fluids intake for about 6 hours
- Don’t smoke for 30minutes
- Avoid physical exertions for two hours
Let’s save lives and donate blood.
