Each school year, the Vitalant blood drive company travels to Trinity to take blood from generous student donors. The blood drive is a way for students to donate blood to local hospitals.
January marks National Blood Donor Month, and each year America spreads awareness on the importance of the lifesaving action of donating blood.
The Vitalant company works with Trinity National Honor Society to coordinate donation days.
Senior Maria Giorgi is a student representative for the drive, as well as history teacher Mr. Majoris and Assistant Principal Mr. Knause. The National Honor Society provides student volunteers to help assist with the donation process.
The donation center is located in the auxiliary gym, and from there, students are checked in and taken back to start the donation process. Possible conditions that would interfere with the ability to donate would include an iron deficiency, a low blood count, a fever, HIV, having had a tattoo or body piercing in the last six months, being underweight, taking certain medications or not meeting the age requirements of 16 years old.
When signing up for the blood drive, forms will be hung in the hallway. From there, students can scan the QR code on the form, register online, make an appointment and have a parent or guardian sign the permission form.
On the day of the scheduled appointment, students will be checked through a brief screening to make sure that they fit the medical requirements to donate. After this, the donor will be taken to the donation chair where a needle will be placed into their forearm and the blood will be drawn. To compensate for the lost blood, students will be given a snack to replenish their bodies and will be asked to complete a questionnaire. After the blood is drawn, Vitalant sends the collected blood to a lab to be tested again for a final evaluation. The blood is then sent to local hospitals for patients who have been in accidents, have had a heart transplant, have cancer or are burn victims.
The most important part of participating as a blood donor is being prepared.
Giorgi says, “If you made an appointment, prepare yourself the night before with a full dinner. Drinking plenty of water is also said to make the donation process easier.”
As an incentive, students will be rewarded with volunteer hours for their donation.
Someone in the United States needs a blood transfusion every two seconds. With this being said, anyone interested in donating blood, the next blood drive will be held at Trinity on February 13. Students should take the steps above to sign up online for the drive.
“One donation saves up to three lives, so every donation counts,” says Giorgi.
