One donation can save three lives.
Every two seconds someone in the US needs blood.
Blood and platelets cannot be manufactured. They can only come from volunteer donors.
The statistics from the American Red Cross illustrate the need to donate. As the students file in and out of the gym, they know they are doing what is right. They are saving lives.
HOSA held its annual fall blood drive on November 12. The drive collected 134 units of blood.
“We had a great blood drive,” HOSA sponsor Katrina King said. “Each unit saves 3 lives, so we saved 402 lives today.”
Students must be 17 to donate blood, so most of the donors are seniors. They understand the importance of their donations.
“I decided to do it because simply I want to help others,” senior Reed Hildebrandt said. “Giving blood made me feel like I was making a difference in this world.”
For many seniors, it is the first time they have donated. They know a little discomfort is worth helping others.
“It is important to donate to help people who need blood,” senior Elizabeth Rutland said. “It was scary because she had to poke me twice, and it hurt a lot. But it was worth it to save someone’s life.”
HOSA is the driving force behind the blood drive. The members and sponsors work hard to have a smoothly run blood drive.
“I decided to participate in the blood drive because it is a really good organization to volunteer for, and I enjoy doing it every year,” senior Kaylee Daniel said. “I decided to give blood because one pint of blood can save eight lives, and I wanted to be a factor in someone surviving.”
As the students finished donating, they received a snack and a cute t-shirt. But they also know they accomplished something more.
“I decided to give blood because I believe it would benefit the health of others,” senior Briance Lang said. “It made me feel slightly weak, and it was rewarding because it made me feel like I accomplished something good.”
For senior Courtney Blum, the blood drive was more than donating to faceless patient in need. As a child, she required blood as she battled cancer.
“I decided to participate to give back to people who gave me blood when I was little,” Blum said. “It made me feel proud that I could do that for someone else.”
