The blood drive will be held on Dec. 8, organized by the Student Council to help save lives by donating blood. If interested, students can sign up for the next one in March.
“It’s a great feeling knowing you could’ve helped someone in need and blood donations are way more needed than people think,” Madilyn Fewkes, senior, said.
Student Council encourages others to donate because it is simple, easy, and helps many people.
“I would encourage everyone in the school, students and teachers because, like what my priest tells us at church, 1 pint of blood saves 3 lives. If you are able, please do so and plus you can get a chord for it,” Leilany Corona, junior, said.
However, there are some requirements that need to be met before anyone is able to donate, so some students may not be eligible to donate.
“There is a weight limit based on height (male/female). There are also other things to consider before donating (illness, surgery, etc.) There is a list/form that you fill out and a screening is done with Versiti prior to donation,” Kristy Riley, student council sponsor, said.
Students should prepare properly before donating blood so as not to cause any risks to their bodies.
“It is healthier and recommended that you hydrate and have a large breakfast beforehand,” Matthew Goodpaster, junior, said.
Be wary that post-symptoms vary through person-to-person when donating blood. For some, there may be little to none, while for others, there could be much more.
“Side effects are minimal. While it does depend on the person (i.e., their build, diet, experience, overall health, etc) I myself felt slightly lightheaded,” Goodpaster said.
“ I did have a person in my time slot who vomited due to their hemoglobin being .1 over the minimum. So if you barely pass the hemoglobin test I’d be wary,” Jakob Karanosky, senior, said.
While it can be scary when Versiti is extracting the blood, there are many people to help comfort.
“I personally felt great, the nurse was nice, the needle wasn’t that bad and you get cookies after,” Karanosky said.