You don’t have to be a doctor or firefighter to save lives. You can do something as simple as giving a blood donation. 

On Wednesday, Oct. 11, Brentwood High School held a student blood drive in the Ross gymnasium. These blood drives help with the ongoing blood shortages. 

There will always be a need for blood donations. According to an article published by the American Red Cross, “Your blood donation are used for patients in need of surgery, cancer treatment and transfusions for blood loss from traumatic injuries.” 

“In order to save people’s lives, people need to donate. Recently, the blood supply has dropped so we need donations,” said Ms. Buechner, business teacher.   

People who were in charge of running the event shared their experiences.    

“It was a bit hectic, because I have never run anything as large as this. But a lot of the student body came together to help those in need,” said Gabriellie Cabral, a senior. 

Members of the student body volunteered to work at the blood drive. Some volunteers were responsible for guiding students throughout the process while others took the students’ names. They made sure to keep students in good condition by giving snacks to those who donated.     

“It was kind of nerve wracking since it would be a lot of blood that they were taking, and I was also worried that I would faint since I do have a fear of blood,” said Emily Mena, a student. “But other than that, I was okay and felt excited to donate blood.”  

Many students signed up to donate. It was something people looked forward to. It was a rewarding experience for everyone involved.    

“It was great to see students donating blood,” Buechner said. “It was a positive experience. A single donation can help save up to 2 lives. Students who donate are truly heroes.”  

Prior to donation, there are steps that should be taken seriously. Following these steps can prevent any problems from occurring throughout your donation.    

“The day before, hydrate,” Buechner said. “The evening before, eat a salty snack. The night before, get plenty of sleep. The morning of your donation, eat a well-balanced breakfast. And right before you donate, drink plenty of water. Remember to keep hydrating.”

Students were heavily encouraged to sign up for the blood drive. The blood donation drive was mentioned in the announcements every morning. Sign-up sheets were in the nurse’s office for students to grab as needed. 

“I would recommend donating because you would be helping someone else and one day you may need a blood donation yourself,” Buechner said. “It’s free and painless, so sign up to donate for the spring blood drive.”