Learning to save lives – IBTS launches blood donation Schools Awareness pack

24th October 2017

Secondary school teacher Therese Glennon and her students at Pobalscoil Neasáin in Baldoyle helped launch the new Giveblood.ie schools pack today (Tuesday).

The pack is designed for senior cycle teachers to deliver a fun, informative and interactive class that will raise awareness for students of the need for blood donation, educate them about its benefits for all patients from young babies to older people, and discuss the Dos and Don’ts of blood donation.

Therese started giving blood when she turned 18, and encourages her own students to do likewise when they are old enough. “I think the schools pack is an amazing idea. By introducing young people to the topic of blood donation at an early age, we want them to realise it’s not just something older people do – but that they too from the age of 18 can regularly save lives.” In addition, with the support of the school Principal and blood donor himself, Pat McKenna, Therese has brought several students to a blood donation clinic to give blood.

Therese and her class helped make two short videos to publicise the education initiative and these can be viewed at www.giveblood.ie, where teachers and students can download the schools pack itself. In addition, a hard copy of the pack has been sent to over 700 secondary schools nationwide this week, and the social media campaign #EveryOneCounts will over the next month, feature Therese and her class.

“It is vital we gain more new and younger donors to maintain blood supplies to hospitals. If we can get younger people to start donating early by the time they reach their mid 20s they will understand the importance of giving blood, and it is then something they make part of their normal routine. But if we don’t reach them at an early age it can be something that just doesn’t register as an important thing to do,” said Paul McKinney, IBTS Operations Director.

“We are confident senior cycle teachers will see this as something of interest and worthwhile for their students and we are targeting that at the end of any school year, 70% of students will have learned about blood donation, will discuss it with their family members, and will consider becoming donors when they are eligible. This awareness campaign is ultimately about encouraging the donors of the future.”

ENDS