During the winter months the blood stock level in the Western Cape tends to decline. This is mostly due to the lasting effects of colds and flu. The Western Cape Blood Service (WCBS) is therefore appealing to all healthy new and existing blood donors not to get cold feet this winter – rather come and donate blood during the winter months.
“If you fulfil the basic criteria of blood donation we appeal to you to help us keep our blood stock level at five days during the winter months,” says Michelle Vermeulen, Corporate Public Relations Officer at WCBS. If you donate blood during May, June, July and August, you will receive a pair of limited edition WCBS funky socks, as a token of our appreciation for you bracing the cold.
If you are between the ages of 16 and 75, weigh more than 50kg, healthy on the day of donation and lead a safe sexual lifestyle you should be able to donate blood. Donors who are suffering from colds and flu will only be able to donate blood again once they have been symptom-free for at least seven days or seven days after completing a course of medication.
Visit www.wcbs.org.za, call 021 507 6300, SMS ‘Blood’ to 33507 or download our app, WCBS, to find out where to donate.
Please don’t keep us out in the cold this winter, come and donate blood!