Vale comprehensive students and staff roll up their sleeves to help save lives
Students and staff from Cowbridge and Stanwell Comprehensive Schools have been thanked by the Welsh Blood Service for donations given at blood donation sessions.
Between them, over 100 donations were collected.
Mrs Debra Thomas, Headteacher at Cowbridge Comprehensive School praised those who took part:
“We are very proud of our students for their commitment to saving lives. Every blood donation made can save up to three lives so collectively our pupils have already potentially saved over three hundred lives in Wales!
“I am immensely proud of the students and staff for helping us reach these incredible figures.”
After making her first donation, sixth form student Darcy said:
“Donating blood isn’t all that scary. It is really important for students to join the programme as the Welsh Blood Service is always in need of new donors, so I would definitely say ‘do it’. I’m so glad I did!”
Following the sessions, more than 90 students have also signed up to the Welsh Bone Marrow Donor Registry; a database of over 35 million unique donors from across the globe.
Stanwell became the first school in Wales to host its own donation sessions for students and staff in 2015. Last year, they were joined by Cowbridge as part of WBS’s comprehensive schools programme.
Based on their success, the WBS recently launched an initiative to increase the number of schools hosting their very own donation sessions. It is predicated that the scheme will help secure an additional 300 first time donors each year.
Alan Prosser, Director of Service at the Welsh Blood Service said:
“We would like to thank the students and the members of staff who have selflessly contributed towards the 100,000 donations needed in Wales each year. They have shown fantastic commitment and great community spirit.
“If you have never donated before, now is a great time to try.”
To start your lifesaving journey today, please visit welsh-blood.org.uk/ or call 0800 252 266 to find your local donation clinic.
About the Welsh Blood Service
- Anyone aged between 17 and 66, who weighs over 50 kg (7st 12lb) can become a blood donor but there are height and weight restrictions for females under 20 years old.
- There is no upper age limit for donors who have donated in the last two years.O Negative supplies are vital as this group is known as the universal donor as it can be used to treat any patient in an emergency.
- O Positive is the most common blood group in Wales.Blood can’t be stockpiled – its short shelf life means stocks have to be replenished on a daily basis.
- WBS also hosts the Welsh Bone Marrow Donor Registry, blood donors aged between 17 and 30 can join the database which is searched every day to find suitable donor-patient matches across the World.