Blood Drive a Huge Success, as WHS Students and Staff Step Up to Help Others

by Susanna Chen for Walkersville High School Lion’s Pride

Tucked away in the back of the gym among a cluster of tables, cots, and a motley set of equipment is where the first Walkersville High Blood Drive was held on October 25th.

The National Honor Society is in its third year of hosting the blood donation program run by the American Red Cross. Travelling across the nation to various sites, the Red Cross helps save people such as leukemia patients, trauma survivors, surgery patients, and premature babies with these donations.

Brandie Bowman, a collection technician of the Red Cross, was personally impacted by the organization’s charity. She said, “My daughter at birth was a recipient of units from the American Red Cross…she was a premature baby and she received four units of blood. And so after that, I volunteered at Volunteers for Disaster and then came to work in blood collection and also to donate.”

A relatively easy gesture of charity that can be done by any healthy person who qualifies, donating blood may be a priceless contribution to people in need and grant them, as social studies teacher Jamie Skena called it, the “gift of life.”

She stated, “it’s an awesome opportunity to give back to the community…it’s a good feeling to know that you’re saving three strangers that would otherwise die without your contribution.”

As people who are younger, most students are capable of rebounding from a blood withdrawal without significant impact on their health. And it is a small price to pay for saving the lives of up to three people.

Junior Mikaela Miller is a second-time donor, “I chose to donate because it’s very important to me–just saving as many people as you can and helping the community one way or another.” Then implored other students to do the same, “I think other students should consider donating blood, because one day you may need blood in a certain situation and you should try to help other people who are in that same situation or scenario and may need something like this to help them.”

Another donor, senior Ioana Draghici is on her third donation. She stated, “I thought I would give my part back to other people–back to the community, like the greater good…if I could deal with a little pain, it’d be worth it for those who deal with a lot of pain.”

In order to donate, students must be at least 16 years old and have parental permission beforehand. Those over 5’2” must weigh over 110 pounds, while people under 5’2” must weigh at least 130 pounds in order to achieve a higher blood volume.

The requirements for this year are slightly different than in previous years. The recently opened Tropical Smoothie Cafe at Clemson Corner has drawn many students to visit and inevitably consume their smoothies. However, it was discovered last month that hundreds of cases of Hepatitis A were linked with the strawberries used by the chain, causing anyone who has consumed a smoothie in the last four months to be ineligible to donate blood. Furthermore, the spread of Zika virus into Florida has barred any recent visitors to Florida from donating. People who have been tattooed in the last year are also unable to donate as it carries the risk of blood having been infected with the needles used to apply the ink.

As a group of workers bustle about around students lying on cots, the latest pop music plays in the background to relax the tension induced by the prospect of giving blood. Before donating blood, students are given a booklet about the requirements and the process. They are then taken into a booth for a physical exam where they are asked a few questions about their health. Once qualified, they are taken out to lie on the bed where the technicians then take charge.

“My experience was great. They were all really nice and willing to help and do whatever I needed,” said Miller.

Many students are hesitant to donate blood due to the anxiety associated with the thought of having blood extracted through a tube and needle. However, the donors described their experience as generally stress-free, as the workers put them at ease with the professionalism and skill.

“There’s always a little nervousness,” stated Miller. “But other than that, no. I trust them with my body to properly puncture my skin.”

Draghici commented, “This time it was really fast. They sounded like they knew what they were doing and I wasn’t worried about that. It’s over quicker than you think. There’s not as much pain as you think there is.”

People wary of pain may also be put at ease with the knowledge that it may not hurt as much as they may believe.

“I didn’t really feel anything,” said Miller. “Afterwards, it’s always a little sore because it needs to heal. But other than that, just a little pinch and a prick.”

Draghici described her experience with, “It’s really warm. My arm is really really warm. But it’s just…normal, I guess. You can’t really feel it because [the equipment] is cutting it off.”

Once about a pint is collected, the blood is sent to Mt. Hope, a blood donation center in Baltimore. It is first tested for any infectious diseases and its blood type and then cryogenically frozen to be stored until requested for by a hospital. Donors can track where the blood is transported to online.

Donating blood is a charitable deed which may help save millions, and perhaps even a family member or friend. For students who did not make the sign ups, the next blood drive will be held in January.

“You have the chance to save people’s lives so why wouldn’t you?” said volunteer Brooklyn Pfaltzgraff.

Plus, there is always the selection of snacks afterwards!