Students’ first vital donation

Donating blood is not the first thing most teenagers think of on their sweet 16 birthday, but it was on the to-do list for one group of Rockingham girls.

Kolbe Catholic College Year 11 students Erin McCormick, Rebecca Ffoulkes, Jamaica Johnson, and Claire Powell gave blood for the first time last month at the Rockingham Blood Donor Centre.

The high school is the only one, of eight, in Rockingham which is donating blood. The four girls agreed they were inspired by the school, advertisements, and family members who had donated in the past, and they wanted to do their part to help.

Rockingham blood bank spokeswoman Jessica Willet said the centre was low on donations and needed 350 donors in the next month to meet its quotas.

Student Erin McCormick, 16, said finding out only 3 per cent (1 in 30) of Australians gave blood was disappointing.

“Most of us have the ability and we don’t take advantage of it,” she said.

“Finding out that every bag can help save three people is a realisation that you are helping to save lives.”

Fellow student Rebecca Ffoulkes said discovering hardly any schools in the area contributed was a shock.

“I think it is really important to get into the habit young so you can continue doing it right up until you are older,” she said.

Students Jamaica Johnson and Claire Powell, both 16, said it was a good feeling to be able to help out and hoped others would roll up their sleeves for the cause.

Ms Willet said the Australian Red Cross Blood Service ran a School’s challenge every year and was encouraging all schools in the region to compete.

“We want to encourage them to become blood donors for life,” she said.

For more information head online to www.donateblood.com.au.