Here's why donating blood matters and how you can help save lives #SANBS
Every drop matters!
It is reported that every two seconds, someone needs blood.
Currently, the South African National Blood Service (SANBS) is running low on blood stocks.
"Throughout November and December, we experienced very low bloodstock, we struggled with blood donors coming in at the moment we are on less than three days bloodstock, and the situation is dire, and we really need help from South Africans," SANBS’s Khensani Mahlangu told East Coast Radio.
According to SANBS, these are some of the conditions or people that might need blood:
- Women hemorrhaging due to pregnancy complications and other gynecological complications
- Premature babies
- Children with severe anemia
- Accident trauma patients
- Surgical and cancer patients
Read more: Help save a life at one of these blood donation sites in KZN
A Unit of Blood can save up to three lives
To meet the daily demand for blood, SANBS must collect an average of 3 500 units of blood a day. When blood is donated, a single “whole blood” donation may help as many as three patients. Each unit of blood can be separated into its various components – red cells, plasma and platelets – and given to patients with different needs. What’s more, a unit of blood is also used to help advance the science of blood-related medicine worldwide if it is used for research purposes. That’s because SANBS is one of the premier blood services in the world.
Frequency of donations and blood safety
The more regularly a donor donates, the more useful the donation will be. Thus, the blood donated by regular donors, which is less likely to be in the infectious window period, will be used for the production of blood components, such as blood platelets. Because blood lasts only 42 days after donation, regular donors are essential for sustainability, and blood can be donated every 56 days. Less than 2% of those who are eligible actually give blood.
The lives of all patients in need of blood and blood components depend on the generosity of our blood donors.
What do I need to know about blood donation?
The decision to become a safe blood donor means that you commit to participating in a vital community service that ultimately improves the quality of life for many. It is an honour to be able to help save lives, but not everybody can become a blood donor. The South African National Blood Service (SANBS) has various measures in place to protect the health and well-being of both blood donors and patients. These measures ensure that our blood supply is among the safest in the world.
Minimum Requirements to be a Blood Donor:
o You are between the ages of 16 and 75 years old for first-time donors.
o You weigh a minimum of 50 kgs (and platelets a minimum of 55 kgs).
o You are in good health.
o You lead a low-risk lifestyle.
o You consider your blood safe for transfusion.
o You have had a balanced meal within four hours of donating blood.
o You have not donated blood in the last 56 days (and platelets in the last 14 days).
o Your pulse is between 50-100 regular beats per minute.
Do not donate blood if your lifestyle puts you at risk:
1) If you’ve had more than one sexual partner in the past six months
2) If you are a man who has had sex with another man in the past six months
3) If you have or may have contracted a sexually transmitted disease (STD), such as HIV or syphilis, that can be passed
4) on to a patient through your blood.
5) If you have ever injected yourself with drugs
6) If you want to give blood in order to get an AIDS test
Donating blood is safe
You can’t get AIDS from donating blood. All needles and fingerprick lancets are new, sterile and used only once. After use, each lancet and needle is placed in a special medical-waste container and incinerated. Trained staff collect all blood donations, and strict protocols are followed to ensure that all blood donation procedures are safe and hygienic.
Where the blood goes
o Medical cases: e.g. cancer treatment - 27%
o Childbirth & gynaecological cases - 26%
o Surgical cases: e.g. cardiac surgery - 21%
o Paediatric cases: e.g. leukaemia - 10%
o Orthopaedic cases: e.g. hip replacements - 6%
o Research/laboratory - 6%
o Casualty: e.g. trauma patients - 4%
What are the Main Blood Groups?
Chemical substances found on red blood cells determine blood groups. The two most important blood group systems are the ABO system and the Rhesus (Rh) system. Within the ABO system, people can be of four types: O, A, B or AB. Within the Rh system, people can be either Rh-positive or Rh-negative. Each system is inherited independently of the other, and therefore there are eight main groups.
Read more: SANBS calls for blood donations
Without having enough blood stock, lives would be lost.
"Thousands of patients would die daily if there is insufficient quality blood in stock," states the SANBS site.
Just one unit of blood can save up to three lives.
"When one donates blood, they give patients the gift money cannot buy or science cannot create. A unit of blood can save up to three lives as blood is separated into red blood cells, plasma, and platelets," says the organisation.
The blood donation process takes about 30 minutes from start to finish.
To better prepare yourself to donate blood, Red Cross Blood recommends that you have a good night's sleep the night before your donation, eat healthy foods, and drink extra liquids.
After you have donated blood, the SANBS recommends that you drink liquids for at least four to six hours, avoid strenuous physical exercise or heavy lifting with the arm used for donating for two hours, and do not smoke for at least half an hour after donation.
Click here to check where you can go and donate blood.
Read more: Debunking blood donation myths
Main image attribution: East Coast Radio