Bleeding Love

By Arturo Compean, Online Editor|March 28, 2014

One of the blood drive technicians organizes the donated blood. Photo by Arturo Compean.

On Wednesday, March 19, 2014, George Ranch’s NHS hosted their fourth semi-annual blood drive in the school’s auxiliary gym. Over 130 students signed up to donate their platelets, plasma, red blood cells and whole blood. The blood drive was held all school day from 8:15 a.m. to 3:40 p.m. without a single empty donating seat.

 

Sophomore Julian Centeno donated for the first time at the NHS Blood Drive. “I wasn’t as nervous as I thought I would be,” Centeno said. “I donate to help save lives of people who really need it, because I’m really grateful for how healthy I am.”
Sophomore Julian Centeno donated for the first time at the NHS Blood Drive. “I wasn’t as nervous as I thought I would be,” Centeno said. “I donate to help save lives of people who really need it, because I’m really grateful for how healthy I am.” Photo by Arturo Compean.

Students who signed up to donate would be pulled from their class during their appointment time and taken down to the gym. After drinking a bottle of water and a snack, students were taken to speak with a technician to answer a set of questions and take a few tests to see if their eligible to donate. After the session, students received their free blood drive t-shirt and waited for a donation spot to be open.

Depending on what donation is given, it can take from five to fifteen minutes to donate whole blood and it takes thirty to forty-five minutes for an apheresis machine. The apheresis machine is a device that takes the donated blood and separates the components that are only needed, such as only taking red blood cells. The blood is filtered for the cells and everything else is given back to the donor with some saline.

After the donation, donors are asked to raise their arm.

“We actually raise their arm to help prevent bruising.” Gulf Coast Blood Center Technician Lindsey Luker said. “It helps to clot the blood a lot faster, because you’re not having your arm facing down. By raising it up, you’re helping the blood to clot quicker and it prevents any type of bruising. If you bend your arm, like you see most people do, it’ll actually cause bruising and swelling in that area.”

Students have their own reasons for donating blood, whether they’re thankful for being healthy or they just want to make a small difference.

“I donate because it’s a good cause,” Junior Christina Liew said. “Also for the free cookies.”
“I donate because it’s a good cause,” Junior Christina Liew said. “Also for the free cookies.” Photo by Arturo Compean.

“The first time I donated platelets, a couple days later, the blood center contacted me because a cancer patient reacted really well and they were wondering if I would donate again, and I did,” senior Shelby Reyes said. “And now I’ve become a routine donor.”

The NHS hosts a fall and spring blood drive, if you’re interested in donating go to http://www.giveblood.org/nmdp-guidelines for more information on eligibility requirements.