CLUB 25 is a youthful concept, promoting the value of saving lives by giving blood. Through CLUB 25, people are encouraged to attend a blood centre, learn about healthy lifestyles, and to give blood regularly, aiming for about twenty blood donations by the age of 25 years.
They also share what they have learned with their communities through health promotion activities to prevent HIV/AIDS, substance abuse and other health- risk behaviors; in addition, there are opportunities to be active in promoting first aid, good nutrition, physical exercise and road safety.
CONDITIONS
Membership: Criteria will vary from country to country but here are some ideas:
-Blood donors aged 18-25 years who have donated at least two donations a year
-First-time donor who commit to giving blood regularly (two or three donations a year)
Aims:
These will also vary country to country but generally, club 25 programmers are part of an overall blood donor retention strategy. For example, in South Africa the Club 25 programme aims to:
-Establish a process whereby senior school blood donor will be retained at the time they leave school
-Create a lifelong commitment in school leavers to the concept of regular donation of safe blood after they leave school.
What is safe blood ? ? . . . Safe blood is blood that does not contain any viruses, parasites, drugs, alcohol, chemical substances, or other extra-neous factors that might cause harm, danger or disease to the recipient. People who donate blood should be in good health and should not suffer or have suffered from any serious illnesses. The recipient should not be harmed by receiving blood; the donor should not be put at risk by giving blood.
The world relies on safe blood, yet only 20-30% of the world’s health systems are able to provide a safe and adequate blood supply. There are a limited number of healthy people donating blood. Every year, over 100 million blood units are collected from blood donors. Many millions more are still needed to fulfil global requirements and ensure availability of blood when and where it is needed.
Although blood can be screened for infectious agents such as viruses, it cannot be treated to kill viruses and micro-organisms because the red blood cells would be destroyed by the methods currently available. Supplies of blood tests for screening blood are sometimes interrupted in poor countries. Honesty in answering the donor questionnaire and at interviews is critical for the safety of blood transfusion. Blood donors take on a remarkable responsibility when offering themselves as life-savers.
Governments should take every opportunity to review the requirements of all health authorities and see that they are committed to supporting the blood services with sufficient funding. The health authorities should also ensure that all necessary safety procedures are ava
ilable and in place, are supported financially, and are protected and enforced by national legislation.Safety of blood and blood products depends on many factors, starting with the recruitment and recall (at safe intervals) of voluntary, non-remunerated blood donors who have been eliminated from any risk. Safety is ensured by providing clean conditions for blood collection, appropriate screening of donors, extensive testing, proper storage, and appropriate clinical use of transfusion. Safety from me to you, throughout Finnish Red Cross Pan American Health Organization.
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