Wednesday 9 April 2014

Blood donation #36

Donors can donate blood every 52 days and following my donation a few days before xmas, I was due in mid-Feb. I tend not to donate within a few weeks of big races and with the Pelinduna 70km on the cards for early March, I decided to wait. The race was cancelled and I've just been a slacker.

This morning my donor buddy, Darrell, Whatsapp'd a photo of his visit to his local SANBS donor clinic in PE. We're on the same 'schedule' - he has also been a slacker.


His pic was perfect motivation for me to go along this afternoon to my clinic. 

It is always a pleasure to visit. The staff are friendly, our new fancy coffee machine thing makes delicious hot chocolate and the cookies are a winner (cinnamon are my favourite). It's a quick process too. A few mins to do the forms (yes, my blood is safe to donate), check BP and iron. Took seven mins to fill a pint. Then another few mins to chat to the sisters and the girl next to me, finish my juice and cookies. Ba-ba-ba-boom.


I'll only make it to #40 next year... but at least by then end of this year I'll be able to equal and then exceed my age - a pint for each year.

One of the sisters said that the National blood stocks are 0.9 days... they like to have a five-day supply on hand. This is b.a.d! On the positive, I saw two other donors there. I don't always see other people.

As I've said before, don't go to donate unless you intend to become a regular donor - at least three times a year. Once-off donations are a waste of resources, blood and good intentions. You can check the SANBS website for clinics (fixed and mobile). 

2 comments:

Unknown said...

My next donation is due 21st of May. But really true about donating regularly hey. Do you know where you can track your amount of donations? I donated three or four times a year while I was studying, from my 2nd year. Can't remember how many in total. I've donated once this year. SANBS comes to our office every two months.

adventurelisa said...

Hey Demetrio - just saw your message now. Doh!
When you go to a donor clinic you can ask them how many you have done. There will be a record on their system.

Alternatively drop SANBS an email or a phone call and they should be able to tell you too.