DID YOU KNOW?

June is National Blood Donor Month.

June is dedicated to blood donors.

World Blood Donor Day is commemorated annually on 14 June in a global celebration of the millions of people throughout the world who give their blood on a voluntary, unpaid basis to save the lives of those in need.

• Less than 1% of South Africans are active blood donors
• A unit of blood only lasts 42 days after donation
• 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
• There are many SANBS blood donation centres open to the public during lockdown – www.sanbs.org.za/donor-centres/
• The SANBS is exploring ways to use blood plasma donated by recovered patients for the treatment of COVID-19 patients locally through a 2-phase clinical trial. SANBS will also be supplying convalescent plasma to physicians currently treating patients with the virus in the context of the clinical trial. Click here to find out more.