Blood donors in the Western Cape are being urged to donate, with critically low stock in seven of the eight blood groups.

The Western Cape Blood Service (WCBS) said O positive and O negative currently have only a two-day supply left, while A positive, B negative and AB negative are at a three-day supply, and B positive and AB positive are at a four-day supply.

The WCBS spokesperson, Marike Carli, noted that this is below the five-day supply it aims to maintain.

Carli has called on people aged between 16 and 75 who weigh 50kg or more, are in good health and lead a healthy sexual lifestyle to consider donating blood soon.

She advised that hospitals transfuse blood to patients in need, adding that it’s not only needed for medical emergencies or trauma cases, but that blood reserves can also help patients during childbirth, scheduled operations or in the treatment of various illnesses.

“Blood is needed every day and cannot be manufactured, which means we rely entirely on voluntary blood donors to ensure that blood is available when patients need it. We are asking all eligible donors, regardless of their blood group, to please make the time to donate blood,” said Carli.

For more information or to find your closest blood donation clinic, visit www.wcbs.org.za or send a WhatsApp to 060 549 7244.