Be a life saver, donate blood
2005-05-26
WITH winter upon us, the Western Province Blood Transfusion Service is doing an urgent call on all prospective donors to donate blood.
During the winter season, which is a critical period for the blood transfusion service, they rely on all healthy individuals to donate blood, as regular donors may be unable to donate blood due to colds and flu.
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 in Paarl’s Main Street, for advice (871-1030).
Donating blood is safe and simple. All needles are sterile, used once and then discarded.
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 (450 ml) 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.
Under these circumstances it’s so easy to be a lifesaver! 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.
For further information please contact Claudette Arends at 871-1030 or 082-564-5458.
More
News
|
