14 June World Blood Donor Day
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. The day aims to raise awareness of the need for safe blood, to thank and honour those blood donors who make transfusion possible and to encourage regular blood donation by suitable 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.
https://www.awarenessdays.com/awareness-days-calendar/world-blood-donor-day-2024/
World Blood Donor Day is an annual event, usually on the same date each year, to thank voluntary blood donors and acknowledge them and encourage blood donation and new donors, especially by representing how blood donations have saved and changed lives. The Day has the slogan ‘Share Life, Give Blood’, referring to the caring and cohesion that giving blood and caring for others involves.
Donating a unit of blood for a patient. This unit of blood can be processed into 3 components namely red cells, platelets and plasma. The components are used to save 3 lives.
This process takes approximately 30 minutes to donate.
Donating safe blood means you are committed to participating in a vital community service to improve the quality of life, for patients in need of blood transfusions.
The South African National Blood Service (SANBS) has various measures in place to protect the health and wellbeing of blood donors and patients.
These measures ensure that our blood supply is among the safest in the world.
You will be required to complete a Donor Questionnaire. The questions are aimed at assessing your health and lifestyle to eliminate any effects that could pose a risk to your health and the health of a recipient.
This is followed by a one-on-one interview with the nurse who goes through the questions to ensure that the questions are understood and that the donor understands the importance of being honest on the questionnaire.
Your blood pressure and haemoglobin (iron) levels are checked. (The checking of your iron level is done with a small prick to your finger.) If you meet this criteria you may continue, if not you will be deferred
Can I save 3 lives today?
https://sanbs.org.za/can-i-save-3-lives-today/
DONOR’S RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Giving your lifesaving blood to help in the medical care of patients justifies respect, courtesy, trust, and appreciation. The SANBS values its blood donors, as we could not fulfill our lifesaving mission to the South African community without the support of blood donors.
To ensure that donors and prospective donors have full confidence in the blood donor process, we state the following rights and responsibilities of all donors
Respect: You have the right to be treated with courtesy and respect in all interactions with SANBS employees and volunteers.
Considerate and Respectful Collection and Care: You have the right to high quality, considerate, and respectful blood collection experience. You also have the right to receive prompt, truthful, and clearly understood answers to questions about the donation process.
Quality Donation Standards: You have the right to be assured that SANBS meets or exceeds all requirements of the applicable standards in the collection and handling of blood donations.
Privacy: You have the right to receive appropriate acknowledgment and recognition for donations and to be assured that all donor information is handled with confidentiality, privacy, and security.
Information: You have the right to be informed of the ways in which SANBS intends to use the blood that is collected from you and to be assured that donations are used for their intended purposes.
Complaints: You have a right to file a complaint with the Quality department if you have a complaint or concern with regard to donor safety or quality.
Consideration and Respect: You are responsible for being considerate and respectful of other donors and SANBS staff by maintaining civil language and conduct in your interactions at all times. The SANBS does not tolerate any form of abuse or harassment of other donors or staff at its collection sites.
Eligibility: You are responsible for providing accurate and complete information to SANBS regarding eligibility to donate blood.
Following Instructions: You are responsible for following post-collection instructions as given. Please ask questions or tell us if you do not understand the instructions and notify us about any changes in your condition after leaving the donation site.