For the second year in a row, Spine Road High from Mitchell’s Plain has ranked first on the Western Province Blood Transfusion Services’ (WPBTS) list of top donor schools for 2018. Learners and staff collectively donated 537 units of blood, increasing their contribution by 99 units from last year. The school also enrolled the highest number of new donors, with 236 signing up this year.
“Young people play a vital role in the maintenance of our blood supplies – we are hugely grateful for those schools and institutions with which we conduct regular donor drives,” says WPBTS Corporate Public Relations Officer, Michelle Vermeulen.
In second place this year is Fish Hoek High, collecting 452 units – 40 more than the previous year – and in third place is HTS Drostdy in Worcester, with 434 units donated. Punt High in Mossel Bay comes in at number four, with 395 units collected and Bellville High is fifth with 378.
Moving up 23 spots from last year is Malibu Secondary in Blue Downs, now ranking in sixth place with 337 units donated. It is followed by Livingstone High in Claremont (313), Westerford High in Newlands (310), HTS Bellville (304) and DF Malan High (294).
Currently, WPBTS have 117 blood donation clinics at educational institutions around the Western Cape, of which 94 are at high schools and 23 at tertiary institutions. Recruiting young people is key to keeping up with the growing demand for blood and blood products in the Western Cape.
“A huge well done and thank you to all of our schools and the blood donor super stars who attend them. Each unit of blood donated can save up to three lives,” says Vermeulen.
For more information on how to help keep blood supply levels high during the December holidays, SMS “Blood” to 33507, call WPBTS on 021 507 6300, e-mail info@wpbts.org.za or visit www.wpblood.org.za.
The donation process is quick, safe and takes only 30 minutes. For health and safety reasons, donors are required to be between the ages of 16 and 65, weigh over 50kg, be in good general health and lead a safe sexual lifestyle.
This year’s top ten blood donor schools in numerical order:
- Spine Road High in Mitchells Plain –537 units
- Fish Hoek High – 452 units
- HTS Drostdy in Worcester – 434 units
- Punt High in Mossel Bay – 395 units
- Bellville High – 378 units
- Malibu Secondary in Blue Downs – 337 units
- Livingstone High in Claremont – 313 units
- Westerford High in Newlands – 310 units
- HTS Bellville – 304 units
- D.F. Malan in Bellville – 294 units