Donating blood

The whole donation process takes about 60 minutes and involves screening the donor, the actual donation and a brief recovery period. Donated blood can only be kept for a few days.

Blood donations are used in a variety of procedures, for example in standard operations, life-saving emergencies, cancer research, transplant operations and full transfusions for people who suffer from organ diseases.

What is blood and where does it come from?

There is no substitute for human blood and blood cannot be manufactured. Healthy donors are the only source of blood for those who need it.

Blood cells are made in the bone marrow. Blood contains red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets and their various functions are as follows:

• • Red blood cells contain haemoglobin, a protein which contains iron. Red blood cells carry oxygen around the body.

• • White blood cells make up the defence system of the body and are carried to the site of any infection.

• • Platelets help clot the blood to stop people bleeding to death.

All three types of blood cells are carried around the body in plasma which is a clear liquid made up of water and salts.

There are four major blood groups, namely A, B, AB and O. Group O is the most common blood and is in high demand.

How to help you body recover after giving a blood donation

You have to drink plenty of liquid after donating blood to replace the fluid you have lost. The red blood cells, which contain iron, will take about four weeks to replace. Drinking orange or grapefruit juice or Vitamin C supplements with iron-rich food (such as spinach, cereals, red meat and dried apricots) will help your body replace the iron.

There should be no adverse affects from the donation as long as you are healthy and eat well. A healthy adult should be able to donate three times a year without any problems.

Blood donation in South Africa

The South African National Blood Service (SANBS) is responsible for the collection of over one million units of blood every year.

Blood donor recruitment in South Africa is based on a World Health Organisation endorsed programme, which specifies the selection of volunteer blood donors who give blood solely for the sake of helping others and not for being paid for their services. SANBS staff is responsible for the recruitment of regular blood donors.

Securing and maintaining a safe blood supply in a country with one of the highest HIV infection rates in the world is a constant challenge to SANBS. Strict and careful testing and processing of each unit of donated blood are key elements of the strategy for blood safety.

Our Employee Wellbeing Programme (EAP) is available 24 hours a day if you want to know more about blood donation.