The hunt is on – not for Easter eggs – but for blood donors! The April school holiday and Easter weekend is traditionally a difficult blood collection period. For this reason the Western Province Blood Transfusion Service (WPBTS) is urging the Western Cape to donate blood.
“Blood donation decreases during Easter, while the demand from hospitals stays the same or even increase due to road accidents. Many regular donors take a short holiday and all the public holidays also mean that we have fewer opportunities to collect blood”, says Marlize van der Merwe, WPBTS Corporate Public Relations Officer and Spokesperson. Easter is often a time for family and donating blood is a great way to ensure that someone else has a happy Easter.
In an effort to assist the Blood Service in collecting sufficient units of blood during the Easter period, Willard Batteries has launched a limited edition Willard Batteries Lifesaver campaign. This includes a new red limited edition Willard Battery.
Currently there is a shortage of the group O blood type and a special call to action is made to all donors and potential donors from that group. During times of increased pressure on blood stocks, even greater pressure is placed on emergency blood stocks, which mainly comprises of Group O blood.
WPBTS will host blood donation clinics over the Easter weekend on:
Saturday, 15 April: N1 City Mall 09:00 – 14:45
Blue Route Mall 09:00 – 14:45
Cape Gate Centre 10:00 – 14:45
Sunday, 16 April: N1 City Mall 09:00 – 11:45
Blue Route Mall 09:00 – 11:45
Monday, 17 April: N1 City Mall 09:00 – 11:45
Blue Route Mall 09:00 – 11:45
Alternative clinics can be viewed on the website at www.wpblood.org.za.
Any person older than 16 years, weighing more than 50kg and who leads a healthy, safe lifestyle can donate blood. Donors must remember to eat three to four hours before donating blood and increase their fluid intake before, during and after blood donation.
While donors from all blood groups and communities are important, there is a particular need for donors with blood types O to donate regularly as stocks of these are more vulnerable to shortfalls. There is also a need for more black African people to become blood donors to reflect the ethnic diversity of patients.
For more information, SMS “Blood” to 33507 and WPBTS will call you back with information on where to donate. Donors can also call (021) 507 6300, e-mail info@wpbts.org.za or visit www.wpblood.org.za. Like us on Facebook (WP Blood) or follow us on Twitter (@WPBlood) and/ or Instagram (WP_Blood) for interesting facts and blood stock updates.