Spine Road High from Mitchell’s Plain ranked first on the Western Cape Blood Services’ (WCBS) list of top donor schools for 2019, for the third year in a row. Learners and staff collectively donated 619 units of blood, increasing their contribution by 82 units from last year. The school also enrolled the highest number of new donors, with 226 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 where we conduct regular blood drives,” says WCBS Education Officer, Marike Gevers.
The rest of the top three also remains unchanged with Fish Hoek High in second place collecting 505 units – 53 more than the previous year – and in third place HTS Drostdy in Worcester, with 469 units – 35 units more than the previous year.
Punt High in Mossel Bay came in at number four, with 396 units collected, and Outeniqua High from George was fifth with 395 units. Consistently remaining in the top ten since starting a blood donation clinic in 2017, in sixth place is Bellville High collecting 392 units. It is followed by a brand new entry, Bergvliet High, collecting 348 units and the eighth place is shared by Langenhoven Gimnasium in Oudtshoorn and Westerford High in Newlands both collecting 335 units each. Another two new entries, is in ninth place Fairmont High from Bellville (333) and the tenth place is taken by Settlers High from Bellville (324).
The top ten is determined by the most units collected per school and doesn’t take in account the actual size of the schools. WCBS would like to extend an extra word of congratulations to Langenhoven Gimnasium, as they only have 385 eligible donors that could donate, which is learners between the ages of 16 and 18, but still managed to collect 335 units in 2019.
Currently, WCBS have 129 blood donation clinics at educational institutions around the Western Cape, of which 108 are at high schools and 21 at tertiary institutions. In 2019 the youth, donors between the age of 16 and 25, collectively contributed to 27% of the WCBS overall collections. Recruiting young people is key to keeping up with the growing demand for blood and blood products in the Western Cape.
“Well done and thank you to all of our school clinics and the blood donor super stars who attend them. Each unit of blood donated can save up to three lives,” says Gevers.
For more information on how to help keep blood supply levels high during the December holidays, SMS “Blood” to 33507, call WCBS on 021 507 6300, WhatsApp us on 060 549 7244, e-mail info@wcbs.org.za or visit www.wcbs.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 75, 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:
1. Spine Road High in Mitchells Plain – 619 units
2. Fish Hoek High – 505 units
3. HTS Drostdy in Worcester – 469 units
4. Punt High in Mossel Bay – 396 units
5. Outeniqua High in George – 395 units
6. Bellville High – 392 units
7. Bergvliet High – 348 units
8. Langenhoven Gimnasium in Oudtshoorn – 335 units
8. Westerford High in Newlands – 335 units
9. Fairmont High in Bellville – 333 units
10. Settlers High in Bellville – 324 units