It’s World Blood Donor Day on 14 June, which serves as an important annual reminder that this simple act helps to save lives each and every day. If you’re interested in becoming a donor, here are a few things to bear in mind.

There are certain requirements

Good news is that you can donate blood between the ages of 16 and 75. However, the South African National Blood Service (SANBS) recommends that you do so no more than four times a year if you’re over 65.

Here are some of the other minimum requirements listed by SANBS:

• You are in good health and lead a low risk lifestyle.
• You weigh at least 50kg.
• You consider your blood safe for transfusion.
• You’ve eaten a meal at least four hours before you donate.

You’ll be asked to fill in a questionnaire to determine your suitability as a donor and undergo a screening test, which will check your blood pressure and haemoglobin levels to ensure that it’s safe for you to donate.

Times when you may not be able to donate

Even if you meet all the minimum requirements to be a blood donor, there may be certain instances when you won’t be able to donate. These include if you have a cold or flu, are currently on antibiotics, have low iron levels or are on certain medications.

Want to know more?

If you have any questions or concerns about your eligibility as a blood donor, or to find out where you can donate, get in touch with the following organisations:

In the Western Cape

Western Cape Blood Service
021 507 6300
info@wcbs.org.za
wcbs.org.za

In the rest of the country

South African National Blood Service
0800 11 9031
customerservice@sanbs.org.za
sanbs.org.za