It can be tough to find your type, which is why the Western Cape Blood Service (WCBS) has set a target of 160,000 blood donations for 2023, which will save more lives.
Western Cape, South Africa (19 January 2023) – Be someone’s type (blood type that is) in 2023 by making regular blood donations during the year. Committing to 4 donations during the year could save up to 12 lives – every unit of whole blood is separated into 3 lifesaving parts; red cell, platelets and plasma.
Don’t know what your blood type is? Don’t worry, every unit of blood gets tested for blood type, and you will be able to find yours on the WCBS app. Therefore, if giving back features top on your New Year’s resolution list, then donating blood is a good start.
“Thank you to all our blood donors for their support during 2022 and specifically during the festive season, we managed to collect 13 362 blood donations over this time. This resulted in potentially saving over 40 000 lives”, says Marike Gevers, spokesperson for the Western Cape Blood Service (WCBS).
“This year our goal is to reach 160 000 blood donations, and in order to do this, we need your support,” says Gevers.
Blood donation only takes 30 minutes of your time every 56 days. It requires you to be between the ages of 16 and 75, weigh 50kg or more, be in good general health and lead a safe sexual lifestyle. It does not cause you any bodily harm – only 475ml of blood is taken, and this is replaced within 24 hours.
Gevers advises donors to eat a substantial meal within the 3 to 4 hours before visiting a clinic and to increase their fluid intake before, during and after donation. Donors are advised not to over-exert themselves after donating.
This year WCBS is also aiming to increase its collections amongst youth donors. By encouraging the youth to donate blood, it cultivates a culture of life-savers from a young age.
In order to motivate high school learners, WCBS launched the Super 9 Club. This campaign aims to encourage youth donors to make 9 donations before their 19th birthday. They also encourage youth donors that finished school last year to find an alternative blood donation clinic and continue to donate blood.
For more information, call WCBS on 021 507 6300, email info@wcbs.org.za or visit www.wcbs.org.za. Blood stock updates and interesting facts about donation can be found on Facebook (@TheWCBS), Twitter (@The_WCBS) and Instagram (@thewcbs) accounts.
Download the WCBS app, which is available on all iOS and Android devices. It will show you the nearest clinic, the current blood stock levels in real-time as well as your blood type if you’re a blood donor, of course.
Do something remarkable this year, donate blood.