Blood Donations

June was World Blood Donors Month. Currently there is a national shortage of

blood in our blood banks and the South African National Blood Service

(SANBS) is urging all South Africans to go down to their local donation centres

to donate blood.

Did you know:

• By donating 1 unit of blood you can save up to 3 lives

• By becoming a regular donor, you help the SANBS collect

sufficient safe blood to meet their high demand.

• It only takes 30min to donate a unit of blood

Minimum Requirements to Donate:

• Weight of 50kg or more

• Between the ages of 16 and 65 years

• Be in good health

• Lead a sexually safe lifestyle

• Consider your blood safe for transfusion

Can't donate if:

• You suffer from high or low blood pressure

• Have low haemoglobin (Iron levels)

• Are currently pregnant

• Have had a recent surgery

• Are on certain medication (Donor clinics have the list of these medications)

Blood Group:

No matter what your blood group you can donate and are urged to donate so that the

blood bank can have adequate stores of all the blood types. However O blood types are

highly sort for as there blood is more widely used. Especially O- blood as this blood type

is used a lot in life saving emergencies as anyone can receive O- blood no matter what

your blood type.

EMERGENCY #: 076 021 2299