DONORS REQUIRED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 189, 13 August 1940, Page 4

DONORS REQUIRED

BLOOD TRANSFUSION SERVICE WANGANUI HOSPITAL VACANCIES BECAUSE OF ENLISTMENTS.

Since the outbreak of war several of those who have been donors in a Blood transfusion service with the Wanganui.Public Hospital have joined the fighting services and to make the membership up further volunteers are required, in addition to its voluntary donors, the hospital received the cooperation of the St. John Ambulance Brigade.

Recently there have been several transfusions and in many cases it was possible to utilise the services of relatives of the patients. In the case ot any illness relatives o£ the invalid are first called upon for a transfusion if they are in the right blood group for the patient’s requirements; in the absence of any such relatives any volunteer in the right group may be called on.

Donors give their services through an organisation known as tne National Blood Transfusion Service, a branch of which is established in Wanganui. Mr. D. E. Gullery, of the Free Ambulance, is the honorary secretary and he is associated with Mr. E. L. F. Buxton, bacteriologist, at the Wanganui Public Hospital. Those wishing to join can communicate with them.

Donors are not required to possess exceptionally good health or physique, although, as a matter of course, each is examined on grouping and by the surgeon before transfusion is carried out. From a quarter of a pint to a pint of blood may be taken from the 10 to 14 pints in the average person’s body, and this deficiency will be made up in about three days, the blood travelling at an average speed of seven miles an hour and moving within the body 168 miles in a day. The only ill-effect felt from th transfusion is a slight dizziness for about 10 minutes caused by the readjustment of the blood pressure. The modern needle method of extraction is painless and one of the most important conditions of service states: "That the needle method of extraction is alone to be used. Opening the vein, cutting down upon it, levering it up is forbidden and donors are instructed to refuse to serve unless this condition is observed." A donor may not be called upon more than once in three months, more in order to prevent too frequent dislocation of private and business en-

gagements rather than for physical reasons, and at the Wanganui Hospital an even longer period is allowed to elapse if possible. ' The frequency depends upon the number of volunteers and the fresh purposes to which the procedure is put.. Some people can give more freely and frequently than others. One New Zealand donor who proved peculiarly

suitable to a certain sufferer, underwent five transfusions in five months, three of them within 23 days, without feeling any inconvenience. It is officially stated by the National Blood Transfusion Service that after seven years’ experience of more than 2000 cases of all ages, It can be positively stated that there are no ill effects upon the health—in many cases the donor is the better for the pro-

cedure. Every consideration is give: to donors and the inconvenience suf fered is reduced to a minimum. An: expenses incurred are repaid an where necessary a taxi is supplied.