North NHS Partners with MVRBC to Host Blood Drive
According to the American Red Cross, every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood, and about 36,000 units of red blood cells are needed every day in the United States. Students and staff at North helped fill this need on Thursday, March 30 at the Parkway North Blood Drive, which was run by the North National Honor Society (NHS) and the Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center (MVRBC).
The North Blood Drive is held biannually, with one drive in the fall, and another in the spring. In October, the drive collected seventy-five pints of blood, and this most recent drive collected sixty-six pints of blood.
Collecting as many pints of blood as possible is important because one donation can save up to three lives. Each donor gives one pint of blood, and in order to donate, one must be at least 17, or 16 with parental consent. Besides that, donors must also have a valid ID with them, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health.
For senior Mary Carter, this was her third time donating, “I’ve been nervous all of the times [I’ve donated]. Needles aren’t fun,” said Carter.
Even though it makes her nervous, Carter still gives blood when she can. “It’s good to help people, and if I ever need blood, it’s like karma. If you give something, then someone else can help you. It’s just a good thing to do.”
When arriving in the gym, where the donation was held, donors signed in, answered a questionnaire, and had a miniature physical with a nurse to check their pulse, blood pressure and iron levels. After completing all of these steps, donors waited in the gym until a nurse became available to assist them.
“The first time [donating] went really well. The second time, I almost passed out, but this time everything is moving really slow which is making me more nervous,” said Carter.
Nerves about giving blood seemed common throughout students at North, senior Grant Hanley said, “I don’t like needles, but [donating blood] is a great thing to do.”
Members of the National Honor Society kept donors company by talking to them while they were donating. Afterwards, donors were asked to sit down and have a snack while waiting ten minutes. This step was important because it helps ensure that they do not faint, and that their blood supply is replenished. Donors also received a free t-shirt.
The blood that was donated by staff and students at North, which was collected by the Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center, will be used to help people in Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin. They supply blood to eighty-six hospitals and have locations in Chesterfield and Maryland Heights where people can donate up to every eight weeks.
“[Blood is] something we all need and some people aren’t fortunate enough to have a normal life and not have to get blood transfusions,” said Hanley, who has donated blood three times now.
By Lauren Sparks, editor-in-chief