After Student Council surpassed its goal of donors, by 31 people, at last year’s blood drive, they’re back, coordinating another drive with the American Red Cross on Oct. 3 and hoping for the same success.
The drive will run from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the aux gym and appointments are still available for every time slot. Parents and staff members are also invited to give blood. Student Council’s goal is to receive 82 units of blood, which could potentially save up to 246 lives.
“I’m very excited about the blood drive this year,” Student Council sponsor Sierra Arnold said. “I think we’re coming in with a lot of momentum from our blood drive that we had last year.”
Donors will need two forms of I.D. and Student Council and the Red Cross advises those interested to research the donor requirements before booking an appointment. But, prospective donors can sign up here.
“I’m not scared to admit that going into it I felt really nervous,” Student Council President Colton Knott said. “However the Red Cross workers did an excellent job of keeping me distracted while I was getting my blood taken. Aside from that the donation site was filled with my classmates and friends who were in the same boat as me who kept my mind off of the donation process. The biggest takeaway from my experience that made it all worth it was when I received my email notifying me that my blood had been received and given to a patient in a hospital in Minnesota. ”
Students wishing to volunteer to donate blood and help save lives can do so one of two ways. Students who are 17 and above will be allowed to donate without parental consent forms, but students 16 years old must have a consent form from Arnold, and they should turn the completed form into the guidance office. 15-year-olds are not eligible.
Also, Red Cross manager, Teri Vitallo, encourages first-time donors or those hesitant to consider the benefits of giving blood or encouraging those around them to.
“You’re able to be really impactful because you can’t vote until you’re 18 but at 16 and 17 you can save lives,” Vitallo said. “And if you aren’t able to donate personally because you’re not old enough or for medical reasons, you have a voice. Use your voice and encourage other people who can donate.”
Despite the fact that a single blood donation could save up to three lives according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, some may still feel hesitant due to the medical aspects, but Vitallo also provides insight into the process.
“Most people will say I’m deathly afraid of needles, but I think about those little kiddos that are in the hospital that are getting poked and prodded all the time with needles,” she said. “If they can go through it, I can go through it for five to six minutes. You only feel an initial tiny little pinch, but then you don’t feel it after that.”
Per Red Cross recommendations, donors should stay hydrated and have a healthy meal before their appointment. Donors are also encouraged to wear short sleeves and bring a list of their medications if applicable.
“I just felt a little tired for the rest of the day and I didn’t really have an appetite surprisingly but I made sure to eat a good breakfast that morning,” Knott said.
The process takes 10 to 12 minutes, but donors should account for more time because of check-in and recovery time. Students can lie down and have snacks to recover before heading back to class.
“It’s not something that is so wonderful [the process of donating blood], but yet it feels so great on the inside,” Vitallo said.
The group is also planning another blood drive to be held in February, but for now, they are focusing on having this month’s event run smoothly.
“Last year was a huge success for our school with it only being our first drive in school history,” Knott said. “We more than doubled the allotted amount of slots to sign up for donating blood. I hope that people will continue to feel that ‘drive’ to donate blood and support our community. ”
