Ongoing shortage of blood worldwide

June marks blood donation month and the Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS) would like to encourage all its members who are able to safely donate blood, to do so and to play their part in saving up to seven lives.

This year's theme for blood donation month is Give blood, Give Now, Give often which resonates strongly with the continuous shortage of donor blood in South Africa and across the globe.

Why should I donate blood?
Many people feel that donating blood is something that ‘other people' do and that there are more than enough donors to supply the ongoing demand for donor blood. However, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, there is a critical shortage of donor blood and some people die because of severe blood loss and the lack of access to suitable donor blood.

Best of all, by donating a single unit of blood every six weeks, you can save up to 45 lives each year.

Why is blood so important?
Blood fuels the human body and is responsible for carrying oxygen and nutrients to your heart and other organs. It also helps to remove waste from cells while keeping your body clean and healthy. Sometimes a small wound may cause you to bleed, but the body is easily able to deal with this. However, if too much blood is lost it can be very dangerous to your health and even result in death.

Severe blood loss can be caused by many things including trauma to the body, childbirth, and complications during a medical procedure or by blood-related illnesses like leukaemia or haemophilia. When a person has lost too much blood it is necessary to replace this blood quickly in order to save his or her life.

Currently, the only way to do this is via a blood transfusion. A blood transfusion is a medical treatment that replaces the lost blood in one person with the donated blood of another person. The donated blood is stored in a specially designed bag and is given to the recipient via a tube into his or her vein.

Blood types and their meaning
Each person has a particular blood type and can donate blood to any other person of the same blood type. There are four different types of blood, namely A, B, AB and O. These are further classified by either a negative or positive.

This is simply a way of determining different blood types and has no connection to a person's HIV status. For example, one person may be A positive, but HIV negative and another B negative, but HIV positive.

Type O blood is especially valuable and always in demand, because it can be given to patients of any blood group in an emergency. However, it is not only important for people with blood type O to donate blood. People with type A, B and AB blood should also donate as their blood may still be used in transfusions for people of the same type and this can save the use of type O for emergency situations.

Donating blood is easy, quick and free
In South Africa, blood donation is facilitated and regulated by the South African National Blood Service (SANBS). Donating blood is completely free and only takes about 30 minutes. You can donate blood regularly, every 56 days.

Is it safe?
All blood that is donated is tested for transmissible diseases. However, you should not donate blood unless you know that your blood is safe to give to another person. The following are people who should not donate blood:

• People who are HIV positive or think that they might be.
• People who have any form of hepatitis, syphilis or any other blood related disease.
• People who have had more than one sexual partner in the last six months or sexual contact with a partner whose sexual history is unknown to them.
• People who have at some or other time injected themselves with drugs.

You cannot contract HIV by donating blood. Specialised staff conduct all blood donation procedures and follow strict safety protocols. All finger-prick lancets and needles are sterile and used once only and then they are disposed of in special medical waste containers and thereafter incinerated.

In addition to the restrictions above, there are also certain medications that may prevent you from donating blood. Make sure to inform the SANBS representative of any medications that you are taking before you donate blood. You will also be asked to fill out a confidential questionnaire about certain risk factors such as the ones mentioned above. It is vitally important that you complete this questionnaire truthfully, because any false information may endanger the life of the person receiving your blood.

How do I know if I can donate?
For your own safety and health, you have to meet the following physical requirements to donate blood:

• Weigh 50kg or more
• Be between 16 and 65 years of age
• Be in good health
• Lead a sexually safe lifestyle
• Consider your blood safe for transfusion

Do not let the safety restrictions and physical requirements discourage you from donating blood. These rules are in place to ensure that all blood that is donated and received is safe.

For more information about donating blood and to find a SANBS clinic near you please call the SANBS toll free number on 0800 11 90 31 or email [email protected].

If you would like to know how GEMS can assist you to obtain more information about any of your healthcare needs, you can phone the GEMS call centre on 0860 00 4367. GEMS will assist you in every way possible to ensure your family's health and wellbeing.