The annual blood drive is this week. The senior class council has worked to promote events to convince eligible students to participate.
Senior class council has multiple committees. Senior Samantha Washburn works in the media to make sure that the school has a social media presence.
“As a member of the social media committee, we play a crucial role in spreading awareness for the blood drive,” Washburn said. “We are getting information out by posting TikToks that are entertaining and informative. We also put these TikToks on Instagram Reels.”
Advertisement is key to recruiting donors for the Blood Drive. More donors means more units of blood available for the sick in the community.
“It’s very safe,” senior class council secretary Harper Moses said. “We have a big enough space for all of the equipment needed, a health screening before we draw an individual’s blood and trained officials and nurses present to do the blood draw.”
The senior class council is working to ensure that the drive goes safely and smoothly. They have a list of requirements to guarantee the donors’ safety: the student must be at least 110 lbs, 16 years old or older and in good health.
There is a sign-in station to help with organization. Individuals who have gotten their blood drawn have a rest area. Snacks will be available.
“People should donate blood because there is a national shortage of blood currently,” school nurse Janice Kaefer said. “Donating provides available blood to save the lives of numerous people.”
Kaefer recommends donors eat well and drink water prior to donating their blood. This is essential because it helps to prevent donors from fainting.
To encourage students to donate blood, the senior class council is giving donors free Chick-fil-A. Additionally, each donor is entered into a raffle where four people have the chance to win a $50 gift card.
The blood drive takes place on this Friday. Donors will receive a pass from their English teachers the day prior to the drive.
On Friday, the donor must show their teacher their pass before leaving class. Then they will head to the fieldhouse.
On the pass is a QR code that students should scan to fill out the Versiti health form. The form can also be found in the senior class council Instagram account.
“We average collecting 250 to 300 units of blood each year during the blood drive,” Moses said. “A lot of hospitals will schedule operations right after the blood drive because of how much we supply. We really do have a positive impact with the work we do.”
The blood drive impacts the community by supplying blood to hospitals in the state. One individual donating blood saves three lives.
“The blood is collected by Versiti Blood Center of Indiana,” Moses said. “Versiti is the organization that we are working with for this blood drive. They help collect and store the blood before sending it off to the hospitals around Indiana.”
Versiti has numerous statewide FDA accreditations and licenses. They also test the blood for diseases before sending it to ensure it meets the required health standards. Versiti Blood Center of Indiana has been in service since 1952.
According to the Red Cross, the national blood supply has dropped 25% since July 1. Blood is vital for surgeries, cancer treatment, blood disorders, health emergencies, anemia treatment and more. Donating blood saves lives.
