Go-Ahead Ireland (GAI) has announced a new collaboration with Giveblood.ie and the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS), Ireland’s national organisation for blood collection and distribution.
The campaign will invite passengers onboard GAI services to take a three-minute online questionnaire that will enable them to find out if they are eligible to give blood and to make a meaningful difference to someone in need of a blood transfusion and potentially save a life.
The ‘Kill Time’ awareness campaign will be rolled out across the GAI fleet in the Greater Dublin Area and surrounding environs where GAI operates.
When passengers board a GAI bus, they will be invited to use their smartphone to scan, click, and learn about how they can become part of Ireland’s life-saving blood donation community by completing a quick eligibility quiz.
Participants will be notified immediately after doing the quiz of their likely eligibility to give blood and become a blood donor.
In Ireland, 1 in 4 people will need a blood transfusion in their lifetime, and a single donation can save up to three lives.
Each blood donation only lasts 35 days, meaning the need for blood donors is constant, which is further emphasised by the fact that the IBTS needs over 3,000 donations every week to maintain a healthy supply.
Paul McKinney, Director Donor Service & Logistics, Irish Blood Transfusion Service, said: “It’s often more difficult to reach potential donors in larger cities, so we are delighted to link up with Go-Ahead Ireland and promote the message of blood donation to its many passengers.
“In particular, we would love to recruit more new younger donors, and we are hoping this campaign piques their interest and starts them on a lifetime of blood donation.”
Dervla McKay, Managing Director, Go-Ahead Ireland, said: “We are immensely proud to have the opportunity to support the Irish Blood Transfusion Service in encouraging and facilitating the public to donate blood.
“Every month, over a million passengers use our services, so we are well positioned to not only communicate the need for blood donations but also to encourage the communities we serve to support the vital work undertaken by the Irish Blood Transfusion Service.”