Friday, March 13th Colonia High School hosted its semi-annual blood drive. Students and staff contributed to Community Blood Services where the blood they donated will help save the lives of New Jersey and New York residents in need of transfusions.
Students, age sixteen and up, were given the opportunity to donate a pint of blood or two to The Community Blood Bank, an organization that helps provide blood to hospitals in New Jersey and New York that treat severe blood-loss victims. According to the Blood Bank’s website, They are a “program that is dedicated to providing the highest quality products for transfusion.” They encourage people of all ages to donate because it could potentially save someone’s life.
Over the past few years, New Jersey has started to fall behind the nation in number of blood donors. Only 2.5% of adults in the state are regular donors, while over 60% are eligible to give blood. According to nj.com, nine out of ten people in their lifetime will need a blood transfusion and a single donation can save up to three lives.
Colonia High School nurse, Joanne Beebe stated, “It is important to donate blood because it saves lives and paves the way forward for the goodness of the world.” While the majority of students go through the process of donating with no problems, according to Beebe, about eight students per blood drive come to her with problems such as vomiting or passing out. “I usually have to run and pick them up with a wheelchair,” she stated. “They usually pass out from the Hypovolemia; or low blood volume. If they had eaten a proper breakfast and had a snack right before they would not have these problems. However some donors will say that they have eaten, when in reality they haven’t.”
In order to donate blood, a donor must fit certain requirements. Anyone aged sixteen to seventy five is eligible, however those aged sixteen must receive a parent consent form. Those who were pregnant, HIV positive, or had a history of leukemia or lymphoma were ineligible to give blood. Some people who were on certain medications, recently out of the country, or had recently gotten a piercing or tattoo could have been temporarily ineligible as well.
High school student, Michael Solomon, did not donate at Friday’s blood drive although he had donated in the past. “I donated blood because I have the universal blood type,” he stated. “It was kind of tiring afterwards, but I would donate again because it is not a huge sacrifice and it makes me feel good about myself.”
First time donor, Natally Chavez stated “I donated because I wanted to help people who needed help. I was proud of myself after I donated, and I would donate again because I want to continue helping people.”
For those in the community looking to donate blood, there will be a community blood drive at the Woodbridge Municipal Complex located on Main Street on Wedneday, April 8th from 9AM to 2PM.
