Blood donation has taken on increased importance in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, with blood supply shortages being experienced during the 2020 circuit breaker, and fewer donors coming forward since the beginning of the pandemic. Understanding the impact, Red Cross Youth @NTU (RCY) conducted its flagship Blood Donation drive from 26 to 28 October 2021. The event set out to collect 180 units of blood at the end of the 3-day event and educate the NTU Community on the importance of blood donation, and to encourage more people to step forward as regular blood donors.
At the end of the event, over 140 units of blood was collected, and the organisers also saw a more engaged volunteer base, with a total of 31 volunteers facilitating the event, 18 of whom were first-time volunteers.
Apart from the blood donation drive, the organisers also sought to engage NTU students more broadly with RCY’s Awareness Week, which was held virtually from 18 – 22 October 2021 through social media. Throughout the week, RCY posted infographics about the importance of blood donations, and the benefits it brings to beneficiaries. In addition, the organisers also sent out publicity emails regarding their Blood Donation Drive to the NTU community and put-up posters at school noticeboards and bus stops to increase awareness of blood donation drives in the school.
Overall, the Blood Donation Drive was successful in registering new donors, collecting a sizeable number of donations, engaging new volunteers and equipping student leaders with key skills.
Through volunteering in this Blood Donation Drive, I have learnt a lot about blood donation and see its importance. With no alternative channels for getting blood, blood donors are important lifelines for most patients. Hence, I stepped forward to be a donor and advocate for more people to donate blood as one unit of blood saves three lives! Guan JingWen, Volunteer & Donor
About Red Cross Youth NTU Chapter
The NTU Chapter of the Singapore Red Cross Society attached to the Voluntary Aid Detachments Division was set up in July 1994.
The objectives of the Chapter are: To encourage and promote the participation of students and staff of NTU in the work of Red Cross; to furnish voluntary aid to the sick and suffering, and all those who require health education, first aid, nursing and welfare services in the University, and to provide voluntary support in such areas in University activities; to organize training and classes on subjects like first aid, CPR and others that fall within the objectives of the Society; to provide voluntary support to the Society in its various activities.
