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Be someone’s type – blood type that is – by making regular blood donations throughout the year.
Committing to four donations during the year could save up to 12 lives, every unit of whole blood is separated into three life saving parts – red cell, platelets and plasma.
“Thank you to all our blood donors for their support during 2022 and specifically during the festive season, we managed to collect 13 362 blood donations over this time,” says Marike Gevers, spokesperson for the Western Cape Blood Service (WCBS). “This resulted in potentially saving over 40 000 lives. This year our goal is to reach 160 000 blood donations, and to do this, we need your support.”
Blood donation only takes 30 minutes of your time every 56 days. It requires you to be between the ages of 16 and 75, weigh 50 kg or more, be in good general health and lead a safe sexual lifestyle. It does not cause you any bodily harm – only 475 ml of blood is taken, and this is replaced within 24 hours.
Gevers advised donors to eat a substantial meal within the three to four hours before visiting a clinic and to increase their fluid intake before, during and after donation. Donors are advised not to over exert themselves after donating.
This year the WCBS also aims to increase its collections among youth donors. To motivate high-school learners, the service has launched its Super 9 Club, a campaign aimed to encourage youth donors to make nine donations before their 19th birthday. Youth donors who finished school last year must please also find an alternative blood donation clinic and continue to donate blood.
For more info, contact the WCBS on 021 507 6300, email info@wcbs.org.za or visit www.wcbs.org.za.
