With the success of the winter blood drive, spring blood donations are opening back up.
“[Blood] It’s something that you can give freely that you aren’t going to miss and that will have such an impact on patients,” primary chairperson Linda Craun said.
Donations will take place on Monday April 22, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center lobby. Appointments can be made during all three lunches. 16 year olds must have a signed consent form.
“It really does encourage the service project if people actually go approach the blood drive table and sign up,” Craun said.
It’s important for students who are donating to eat a healthy breakfast and drink plenty of water before donating. Students can’t have energy or caffeinated drinks the day of donation. Also, students must meet the height and weight requirements.
“They’re [student co-chairs] being very encouraging of the committee members to sign up. Sometimes it’s hard to give up. The Key Club members have to give up their lunch hour in order to be at the table,” Craun said.
The two co-chairs for this blood drive are juniors Miu Verna and Ava Sinishtaj. Encouraging students to come up during lunch, but they are facing difficulty getting volunteers due to testing and conflicting events.
The Versiti Blood Center has collected more than 135,000 units of blood yearly, and regularly hosts school, work and communal drives. One blood donation can save up to three lives, and Versiti gives students the opportunity to partake in saving lives.
“Get over your fear and do it,” Craun said. “It’s easy and you will feel a sense of self consciousness and pride.”
