The Western Cape Blood Service (WCBS) is turning the month of November into Ovember and is therefore appealing to new and regular donors, especially the O blood group donors to donate to keep blood stocks at a 5 day level.
“The upcoming Festive Season highlights the fact that more O donors are needed. This is mainly due to the fact that O donors are universal blood donors. O-negative blood can be transfused to all blood groups. O-positive blood can be transfused to all positive blood groups,” says Michelle Vermeulen, Manager – Public Relations. She continues by saying that the demand for O-positive blood is also high due to the fact that one in three South Africans are O-positive.
Although the month of Ovember highlights the need for O blood donors, the WCBS would like to appeal to all donors to help keep our blood stock at 5 days. “We need new and regular donors who belong to all blood groups to donate blood,” says Vermeulen.
If you are older than 16 and younger than 75, weigh more than 50kg, you are healthy on the day of donation and lead a safe sexual lifestyle you can be a blood donor. To find out where you can donate visit www.wcbs.org.za, call 021 507 6300 or SMS ‘Blood’ to 33507.