KAROO NEWS - Less than 1% of South Africans are active blood donors. A unit of blood only lasts 42 days after donation and, for this reason, it is important for blood donors to donate regularly. Donors can give blood as often as every eight weeks.
Every unit of blood can save a minimum of three lives as blood is separated into red blood cells, plasma and platelets.
SANBS aims to collect 3000 units of blood per day to ensure a safe and sufficient blood supply in the health care system.
If you’ve never done it before, blood donation can seem a little scary. The good news is that many people just like you have overcome their queasiness and discovered that giving blood really is no big deal.
In the greater scheme of things, is a quick needle prick really enough to prevent you from saving lives?
Find out exactly what you can expect, from registration and donor recognition, right through to cookies and cool-drink. We’ve also put together a list of the questions we hear most often, along with their answers, on our FAQ page.
Check when the next clinic is happening in your area, and read through our list of things that might make you ineligible to give blood on any particular day.
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