Beware this Easter
2005-03-24
WITH the Easter weekend and the school holidays upon us, motorists are reminded to drive safely.
The Western Province Blood Transfusion Service will experience one of their critical periods over Easter due to car accidents on the roads (the others are the Festive Season and June/July holidays).
Add to that the ever-present crime prevalence and its victims, and you’ll know that many people need blood from donors to survive their ordeals. It’s so easy to be a lifesaver under such circumstances.
All you have to do is take twenty minutes of your time every 56 days to donate blood.
Blood Donor Clinics will be hosted at the Paarl Blood Donation Clinic in the Main Street, opposite McDonalds every Thursday between 12:00 and 19:30.
Potential blood donors must be in good health, be between the ages of 17 and 65, weigh more than 52 kilograms and lead a safe lifestyle.
If you are on medication that makes you uncertain about whether you are fit to donate blood please speak to the staff at any blood donor clinic for advice.
Donating blood is safe and simple. All needles are sterile, used once and then discarded.
The procedure is as follows: you will be required to complete a confidential health questionnaire.
This is done in the interests of the donor as well as the patient receiving the blood.
Your iron levels will be tested which is done by the finger-prick method and your blood pressure is taken.
If it is high or abnormally low, you will not be allowed to donate at that time.
Once the tests are successfully completed a sister will draw one unit of blood (450ml) from your arm.
Two vials are also taken for testing (Syphilis, Hepatitis B and C and HIV) and confirmation of blood groups.
After testing the blood can be issued to the various blood banks around the Western Province.
The blood volume of the donor is replenished within 24 hours, while the white cells and platelets within 72 hours and red cells within three to four weeks.
For further information please contact Claudette Arends at the Western Province Blood Transfusion Service at tel 871-1030 or 082-564-5458.
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