Support for blood service
2006-09-07
THE Western Province Blood Transfusion Service (WPBTS) is currently experiencing a shortage of blood. Stock levels are very low due to an unexpected increase in usage coupled with reduced collections.
“During the last three weekends our various blood banks have used an average of 350 units of blood per weekend, which is double the normal usage,” says Graham Thurtell, planning manager at WPBTS.
“Usage like this quickly wipes out any reserve stock, since blood collections are planned carefully according to estimated usage. Daily collections should be between 600-700 units. During the last week collections have also declined to 500-600 units daily,” he said.
With the shortage of blood at present, students from the Wagon of Hope Foundation attended the blood donation clinic on 31 August to donate blood and to encourage the community.
The Foundation is a community based organisation who trains learners in peer education. These learners in turn provide support to their peers in schools in Wellington and Paarl.
The training curriculum covers topics such as teenage pregnancies and substance abuse. Their mission is to change the hearts and mindsets of young people and communities.
Potential donors must be 17 years old, weigh more than 50kg, be generally healthy and maintain a healthy (sexual) lifestyle. Donors also needs to eat a substantial meal (sandwich, cereal, etc.) at least one hour before donating blood and take in lots of fluids after the donation.
A confidential health questionnaire needs to be completed. This is done in the interest 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. Once the tests are successfully completed, a sister will draw one unit of blood (450 ml) from your arm.
Blood Donation Clinics are held at 263 Main Street, Paarl, every Thursday from 10:00 to 19:30. Contact Claudette Arends at 871-1030 or 084-467-6743.
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