Every school year, the Red Cross’s Blood Drive comes to our school, and there will be two opportunities to donate. The first took place on October 17th, and the second will occur sometime in March. It’s an amazing way to help those in need. Out of 40 spots open for students to enroll in, there were 26 amazing people who decided to participate to help those who need it.

To be eligible to donate blood, there are requirements to fully participate. Scholars under 18 must weigh at least 110 pounds. Some advice is to get good sleep, have a good meal beforehand, and to be properly hydrated. If you don’t have a good breakfast or have enough water, you could experience nausea or feel sick.

When you first walked into the donation area, you were asked to sign in and complete a questionnaire. You then waited for your name to be called, and after that, they would go through the process of drawing your blood. Once you were done, you could rest for a bit afterward. Food and juices were provided to help replenish students’ electrolytes after donating.

There is no doubt that students attending our school may have felt the fear of needles or weren’t too sure how to feel about donating , but Mr. Lopez expressed that when you donate blood, “it feels like a quick poke”, which, hearing that, may help some people afraid or hesitant about going through with donating.

When donating afterward, there was the possibility to become a lifetime donor to other Red Cross Blood Donations. After becoming a donor, there will be compensation as a thank you for your contribution as well, so to those who are interested, it is suggested to go to the Red Cross Blood Donation website to get more information.