Donors heed blood clinic call to save lives
Blood stocks boosted ahead of the December period.
RICHARDS Bay Blood Donor Clinic was buzzing with donors on Friday when East Coast Radio personality, Cameron Claassens and the blood bank team hosted a collection drive to boost blood stocks ahead of the December period.
The popular deejay and a host of blood bank recruiters scouted the shopping centre for new donors, inviting shoppers to spend less than 30 minutes out of their schedules to support the drive.
Clinic Supervisor, Debbie Duff said a total of 58 donors responded to the call, 10 of whom were new recruits and a whopping 52 units were collected.
The country’s blood stocks are critically low with 2.6 days supply, this is far less than the five day stock required to be collected to ensure that the country’s demand for safe and adequate blood is met.
Donors are urged to visit the local centre or the mobile clinics being held at business premises and shopping centres as collections will continue to drop drastically during this festive season.
An urgent appeal is made to all citizens who meet the minimum requirements to donate and help save lives.
The South African National Blood Services needs to collect 3 000 units of blood a day to meet the country’s demand.
Minimum requirements to be a donor:
• Be between the ages of 16 – 65 years
• Weigh more than 50kg
• Be in good health
• Live a sexually safe lifestyle
