B-E Student Council Runs Annual Blood Drive
By Sydney Hoffman on December 11, 2018
Bridgewater-Emery student council blood drive was put on by LifeServe Blood Center Friday, Nov. 30. It ran from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the multi-purpose room of Emery. Bridgewater-Emery’s student council is composed of students from all high school grades. These members worked at the blood drive, and they worked to recruit blood donors in the weeks leading up to the event.
When recruiting members to donate, student council members had to look at a few factors: age, weight, health and sometimes height. Donors must be 16 years old or older, weigh at least 120 pounds and be in good health. You cannot have low iron, be on antibiotics or be sick at the time. Other health conditions may also be a limiting factor, and so, you must fill out numerous health forms before donating your first time.
Donors typically give a pint of whole blood, but under certain requirements, a donor can give double red blood cells. This automated procedure collects only the red blood cell portion of blood and returns the remaining components to the donor. Double red cell technology allows LifeServe Blood Center to collect twice as many red blood cells as a whole blood collection and gives LifeServe Blood Center the ability to collect specific blood types to meet the patient’s needs. To do this, the requirements for males is to be 16 years old or older, weigh at least 130 pounds and be at least 5’1”. The requirements for females is to be 23 years old or older, weigh at least 150 pounds and be at least 5’5”.
“This was my first time donating, and I gave double red blood cells,” senior Nick Thon said. “I did not have any complications. It just tickled when the plasma was returned back through my arm. I’m so glad that I donated, and I will definitely do it again.”
The blood drive turned out to be a success. Student council’s goal was for at least 32 donations. At the drive, there were 41 donors registered, 37 of which were able to donate. Three of those 37 donors gave double red blood cells. Altogether, enough blood was donated to help save the lives of 120 hospital patients.
“I strongly encourage everyone to give blood,” Superintendent Jason Bailey said. “It’s just a simple act that can save lives.”
Bailey was recognized as being a milestone donor. He has given a full gallon through LifeServe Blood Center.
When recruiting members to donate, student council members had to look at a few factors: age, weight, health and sometimes height. Donors must be 16 years old or older, weigh at least 120 pounds and be in good health. You cannot have low iron, be on antibiotics or be sick at the time. Other health conditions may also be a limiting factor, and so, you must fill out numerous health forms before donating your first time.
Donors typically give a pint of whole blood, but under certain requirements, a donor can give double red blood cells. This automated procedure collects only the red blood cell portion of blood and returns the remaining components to the donor. Double red cell technology allows LifeServe Blood Center to collect twice as many red blood cells as a whole blood collection and gives LifeServe Blood Center the ability to collect specific blood types to meet the patient’s needs. To do this, the requirements for males is to be 16 years old or older, weigh at least 130 pounds and be at least 5’1”. The requirements for females is to be 23 years old or older, weigh at least 150 pounds and be at least 5’5”.
“This was my first time donating, and I gave double red blood cells,” senior Nick Thon said. “I did not have any complications. It just tickled when the plasma was returned back through my arm. I’m so glad that I donated, and I will definitely do it again.”
The blood drive turned out to be a success. Student council’s goal was for at least 32 donations. At the drive, there were 41 donors registered, 37 of which were able to donate. Three of those 37 donors gave double red blood cells. Altogether, enough blood was donated to help save the lives of 120 hospital patients.
“I strongly encourage everyone to give blood,” Superintendent Jason Bailey said. “It’s just a simple act that can save lives.”
Bailey was recognized as being a milestone donor. He has given a full gallon through LifeServe Blood Center.
