There are millions of people with blood deficiencies, rare blood, or in need of blood. That is why the Red Cross has thousands of blood drives around the country. Thanks to the National Honors Society, Hillgrove had the honor of hosting one of them. On November 1st students, teachers, parents, and volunteers gathered in the lunchroom to give blood and help the nurses care for the donors. The blood drive lasted from 3:30 to 7:00pm and had an amazing turn out.
The lunch room that day was transformed into a medical center. The were a multitude of nurses ready to aid and screen the donors. There was food supplied for donors neatly organized, along with Chik-fil-A gift cards, but what was the greatest factor, and the most important were the student and staff donors. There was a line of people eager to help those in need. This shows how Hillgrove is full of students with hearts of gold ready to volunteer.
“They always need more blood. It’s a general need for society,” says Immanuel Powell (12).
This is not Hillgroves first blood drive. The blood drive has been hosted here for multiple years. “They usually have one a year,” says Mrs. Tucker. For those looking to donate to donate the next time red Cross comes to Hillgrove it is important to know the requirements. According to the Redcrossblood.org students who wish to give blood without parental concent must be at least 17. If you are 16 you need to have a parental consent form, but all donors have to be16 or older. There are also additional height and weight requirements that are listed on the site, but donors will also need some form of identification. This should also consist of a proof of one’s age. Becoming a blood donor is not as simple as not as simple as walking in and giving blood. There is a relatively intense screening process that is involved. To insure that students are allowed and recipients will be receiving blood safe for circulation there is an intense screening process. They test for things like anemia, HIV, and other viruses contaminating the blood. Some people have concerns when donating blood, but tis should assure you that it is safe for everyone.
One of the donors, Mrs. Tucker says, “ It’s really safe, and they screen you so closely, and ask so many questions, that it’s not really a concern.”
The Red Cross gets millions of donors every year, and 20% of those donors come from high schools. Hillgrove has the luxury of being one of the schools adding to the statistic. Thanks to the National Honors society Hillgrove exhibited deliberate success that Tuesday and will hopefully continue to do so.
“Having it here helps kids that it’s not some really scary thing, or dangerous, or painful,” concludes Mrs.Tucker.