After winter break, the annual school blood drive—sponsored by teachers Linda Craun and Victoria Sedick—is held twice a year to collect 28 pints of blood and help save lives.
“Each pint of blood has the potential to save three lives,” Craun said.
When the blood is taken, it is broken up into different parts to use for white or red blood cells, even sometimes plasma.
The foundation Versiti is coming to the school to help with the blood drive. Versiti is different from the Red Cross foundation. They cover a wide range of hospitals and communities, including mostly Southwest Michigan. For students to donate on their own time, they would have to be 16 years of age with a parent consent form. For students 17 years or older, they do not have to have a consent form, rather they need to be at least 5 ‘0 tall and 110 pounds and in good health. If these needs are not met, they will not be able to donate as it will be a health risk to the student. Appointments are preferred, but walk-ins are welcome.
“Versiti is different from the Red Cross because everything stays local and they do give out little prizes. The prizes for the month are apparel labeled flannel pants, a little crazy prize each time,” Craun said.
The risks vary depending on the blood donor. The limits consist of being overweight, while it isn’t a disqualifier, it can affect the quality of the blood or pose risks if the donor has unmanaged health issues. Being under weight, blood volume follows weight, so donors under 110 are prevented from donating as they are more likely prone for fainting or severe dizziness. Having an iron deficiency can be a risk, as the blood is usually thinner than needed and it has a higher risk for fainting, these risks need to be acknowledged before signing up for the blood drive, otherwise signing up is recommended. It is also recommended to eat a healthy meal and drink plenty of water before donating.
“It’s running very smoothly and Versiti does a very good job of keeping people on time,” Craun said.
