Red Cross Blood Bank Donations

March 25, 2009

Over 40 students from Beaconhills College, Valley Campus did their bit for the Red Cross when they rolled up their sleeves to donate when the Blood Bank visited the school last week. In all, 37 units of blood were collected by the Red Cross and 21 Beaconhills’ students became blood donors for the first time.

First-time donors are also encouraged and assisted by the Blood Bank ambassadors in the College – five students from each Campus go into the city in February every year to be trained by the Red Cross as Blood Bank ambassadors, with 10 students ready to attend this year’s training day on March 5.

“Beaconhills College is very pleased and proud that many of its students who begin their blood donations at the College continue as committed donors into their adult life”, said Mr John Waterhouse, Blood Bank Coordinator. “This is, of course, the goal of the project whereby students are able to donate for the first time in a safe, small, friendly environment”.

Since 1997, the Red Cross Blood Bank has visited Beaconhills College twice a year and has used the narthex of St. James Anglican Church to conduct its blood collection. Lat week, after over 20 such visits, the church was used for blood collection for the last time – such has been the strong response by the students of Beaconhills College to the Red Cross’ request for more donors that a bigger facility is now required and, in future, the two annual visits by the Blood Bank’s mobile unit will be conducted in the College’s Performing Arts Auditorium.

In future, with a larger six-bed mobile unit in attendance, up to 60 students will be able to donate blood. This will mean that, coupled with visits to the Village Campus in Berwick, over 200 Beaconhills students each year will have an opportunity to donate blood.

The students and staff of the College have also raised over $5500 to be donated to the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal.