SA blood reserves are critically low just when they are needed most and it’s not just the annual increase in road accidents that creates demand. The National Blood Service says climate change is resulting in sunbathers sometimes needing blood if they stay in the sun for too long and get heat stroke.
The service is appealing to holiday makers to donate wherever they are spending their vacations.
As we go into the New Year weekend, blood reserves are at their lowest. The national average is just 1.7 days of stock, with 7 days the norm. The weekend is notorious for serious accidents, which often require blood. But it does not end there; a lot more people also need blood. Cancer patients, new born babies, anaemic patients and the list goes on.
South Africans need to roll up their sleeves and donate. South African national blood service, Nina Van Wyk said: “If our banks had to close down today and we needed blood for seven days, currently we only have blood for 1.7 days so we really need people to come forward and give blood.”
In South Africa a blood transfusion takes place every 39 seconds and one unit of blood can save up to three lives. Blood donor, Laverne Bruintjies said: “It’s my 15th time that I am donating and I am encouraging donors and non-donors to come and donate blood especially now in the festive season”.
But with many regular donors on holiday not much donation is taking place. The service has blood stations all around the country and has asked all South Africans to give blood before the weekend.
[Story from SABCnews.com]
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