On 26th May, The paramedic society alongside the students union hosted a "Know Your Blood Type" awareness event with Blood Donation UK ahead of the university's first-ever blood drive on 16th July.
Anne and Lydia from Blood Donation UK spent the day speaking with students about blood donation, donor eligibility, platelet donation, and the importance of raising awareness of sickle cell disease and the need for more diverse blood donors. Their enthusiasm and expertise helped create an engaging and informative event.
The blood drive has been made possible thanks to the hard work of the Students' Union, particularly Kelly Wiles and Daniel Lawrence, whose dedication has been instrumental in bringing the project to life. From planning and promotion to coordinating with Blood Donation UK, their support has been invaluable.
The response from students was outstanding. During the event, 38 people signed up to donate through the Bucks blood drive, while almost 40 more expressed interest but had to be referred to alternative donation centres after appointments at Bucks became fully booked.
Grace Gallagher, Vice chair of the paramedic society involved in organising the event, said:
"Blood donation is something I am incredibly passionate about because knowledge is power, and awareness is what helps create change. We wanted people to leave feeling informed, supported, and empowered to donate if they were able to."
The success of the event highlights the power of education, collaboration, and community spirit. Thanks to Blood Donation UK, Kelly and Dan from the Students' Union, and the enthusiasm of Bucks students, the university's first blood drive is already making a significant impact before a single donation has been collected.