Winter blood donation campaign calls for heroes

The Western Cape Blood Service (WCBS) has sounded the alarm over a critical shortage of O-positive and O-negative blood, urging eligible residents to step forward and donate as the province enters one of its most challenging times for blood collection.

- NAMHLA MONAKALI

Blood stocks are especially low for the O-negative group, universally compatible in emergency situations, where supplies are sitting at just four days, short of the five-day minimum needed to keep hospitals running smoothly.

Recently, O-group blood levels dropped to a mere three-day reserve.

"This isn't just about numbers," said Marike Carli, Public Relations Manager at WCBS. It's about lives.

"O-negative is often the only option when there's no time to determine a patient's blood type, especially in trauma cases. A shortage can delay care when every second matters.