At the donation station, senior Sophia Panas could see the donor take a deep breath, her eyes fixed on the nurse preparing the equipment. She had been helping with the blood drive as a “blood buddy” all three years being a wildcat, so it wasn’t hard to spot a nervous smile. Sensing the donor’s hesitation, Panas gently squeezed their hand, offering silent support. With a grateful smile, the donor rolled up their sleeve, their resolve strengthened by Panas’ presence.
The Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) club partnered with local Community Blood Centers to host a highly successful blood drive. The event drew in students, faculty, and community members eager to contribute to a life-saving cause.
This event, like the ones prior, is not something that happens on a whim. Under the leadership of the HOSA sponsors and student officers, the blood drive is meticulously organized, with appointments scheduled ahead of time to ensure a smooth flow of donors throughout the day. With approximately eighty appointments, the blood drive requires the wrestling gym to provide space for both donors and volunteers. However, it takes quite a bit of effort to ensure that this room is secured for the drive. Mr. Becker, a HOSA sponsor, stated that planning these events starts as early as a year before the event even takes place.
“You have to reach out to the administration and coaches because we always have to hold it outside from our classroom,” Becker said.“Otherwise, it would be a nightmare to try and get the blood drive here.”
According to the club, the partnership with the Community Blood Centers proved instrumental in the success of the drive. Experienced phlebotomists and staff members from the center ensured that every donation was collected safely and efficiently, adhering to strict health and safety protocols. According to Panas, students are screened for diseases before donating.
“Before you donate blood, you get your finger pricked and they screen you for you know diseases, iron levels, proteins, just to make sure that your blood will be viable and safe to give to other people in the Hospital and Clinics,,” Panas said. “So, I think that the biggest precaution that they take is to check any underlying conditions like diseases or anemia. ”
For many, the donation process can be intimidating. After all, according to OneBlood, a range of 460ml-500ml (one unit) is taken from each donation or approximately 8-10% of one’s blood supply. This process can result in dizziness; which can compromise the quality of the donation entirely. Seasoned donors, like junior Camryn Wenger who has donated several times, gives her advice to new volunteers.
“My tip is don’t watch the blood be filled in the bag because that makes me feel kind of nauseous,” Wenger said. “But you just don’t look at it and you try to focus on someone else which is why you have your buddy so it isn’t that hard.”
Donating, despite these initial hurdles, is overall reported as a very positive experience. The unit of blood drawn from a single person can save the lives of nearly three people. With this knowledge, senior HOSA member Mackenzie Combs describes the personal impact as great. She described the feeling as humbling and motivational. This is especially apparent in the presence of the amount of donors.
“It’s nice to be able to like to be down there and watch like all these people that are willing to donate that aren’t even a part of hosting,” Combs said.
As the day drew to a close, the results spoke volumes about the collective effort put forth by the HOSA club, Community Blood Centers, and the entire school community. An average of around 80 units of blood were collected, exceeding the initial target and making a significant impact on the local blood supply.
As the curtains close on another successful blood drive, the legacy forged by the HOSA club and Community Blood Centers continues to resonate, leaving a mark on the hearts and minds of all involved. With each donation, a lifeline is extended, reaffirming the power of unity and collective action in creating positive change.