Apprentice blood challenge for Red Cross
5 November 2004
Victorian TAFEs are encouraging apprentices and trainees to donate blood in November to help boost stocks in a joint project with the Australian Red Cross Blood Service, Victoria (ARCBS).
The November Blood Challenge for apprentices and trainees is designed to raise their awareness of the importance of giving blood.
The idea for the challenge first occurred to RMIT's Manager of Apprenticeships and Traineeships, Alan Montague, when he met an elderly woman who needed regular blood plasma donations to survive. Mr Montague wanted to help her and the many others who need blood and blood products on a regular basis to live. These include people with leukaemia, haemophilia and cancer.
"It played on my mind and I thought that given that there is a strong network of people involved with apprentices and trainees in Victoria I could do a little more than just give my own blood," Mr Montague said.
He said that, according to medical statistics, less than three per cent of Australians gave blood regularly, while 80 per cent of people would need blood or blood products at some stage in their lives. Every time a person donated blood, they could save up to three lives. Volunteers can donate every three months.
ARCBS has calculated that more than 1,000 blood donations are needed each per week in Victoria to maintain adequate supply to hospitals. Blood and blood product recipients include cancer patients, who receive 30 per cent, 15 per cent to treat those with stomach and bowel diseases, 15 per cent to help those with heart disease and 12 per cent to help save the lives of accident patients, including victims of road trauma.
The Victorian Apprenticeship and Traineeship TAFE network picked up on Mr Montague's challenge. Network chairperson Jill Favero, from Kangan Batman TAFE, said that the concept had a two-pronged appeal. Not only would the Apprenticeship Blood Challenge assist blood supplies but would also raise the profile of apprentices and trainees who are a valuable part of Victoria's workforce.
The Victorian Apprenticeship and Traineeship Blood Challenge Month will kick off in November. Trainees and apprentices can make an appointment to donate by phoning 13 14 95.
