Be a Hero by Regularly Donating Your Blood.
The month of June is globally known for World Blood Donor Day on 14 June, with your one act of kindness, you can save lives. According to the South African National Blood Service (SANBS), less than 1% of South Africans are active blood donors, and blood is an important resource, both for planned treatments and urgent interventions. It can help patients suffering from life-threatening conditions live longer and with a higher quality of life, it also supports complex medical and surgical procedures. Blood is also vital for treating the wounded during emergencies of all kinds (natural disasters, accidents, armed conflicts, etc.) and has an essential, lifesaving role in maternal and perinatal care.
There are many good reasons why you should donate blood and these include:
Blood saves lives
Every unit of blood donated can be separated into 3 components and used to help improve and save the lives of up to 3 recipients.
There’s no substitute
There’s no known substitute for blood and it can’t be replicated due to its complexity.
Blood is in short supply
While 75% of our population are potential recipients, less than 1% are donors.
It’s a good cause
Giving doesn’t get much better than this.
You could be next
It’s not a nice thing to consider, but the fact is that you, a close friend or a family member could well be the next car accident victim or surgery candidate requiring a transfusion.
The process is safe and quick
Sterile, disposable equipment is always used, so there’s no risk of infection. The entire process takes just 30 minutes, after which you can resume your daily activities. Finally, you won’t even miss the one unit (475 ml) of blood donated, because it’s quickly reproduced and replaced by your body.
Dates to Remember
16 June – National Youth Day
14 June – World Blood Donor Day
14 – 19 June – Adult Learner’s Week