Not enough blood for holidays
2011-06-13 14:21
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Johannesburg - More South Africans need to donate blood on Blood Donor Awareness Day on Tuesday since the country's blood stocks were not enough for the holiday season, the Professional Provident Society (PPS) said.
"People may not realise this, but a regular supply of blood is even more crucial on public holidays and during peak holiday seasons, as there tends to be a higher accident rate at this time of year," PPS executive Dominique Scott said on Monday.
"The need for blood never stops, so it is important that we use initiatives such as Blood Donor Awareness Day to highlight the importance of donating in order to save lives."
The SA National Blood Service said an estimated eight out of ten people would need blood or some form of blood product during their lives, but only 1% of South Africans were regular donors.
"A donor can only give blood every 56 days, and there are far fewer donors than recipients, so blood is always in short supply. It is important not to view a donation as a once-off exercise," Scott said.
The PPS is a multidisciplinary group of professionals that offers insurance, investment and healthcare advice.
- SAPA
