On Wednesday, November 7^th, the annual blood drive collected approximately 100 pints of blood, which beat out last fall’s collection of 77 pints. The blood drive was hosted by the National Honor Society in conjunction with Long Island Blood Services, which visits WHBHS twice a year, once in November and again in February.

There are two types of donations, regular and apheresis.  The apheresis test is a bit more complicated; it is the process by which platelets and other specific blood components are collected from a donor. Blood is drawn from the donor and the cell separator collects the platelets and the remaining components of the blood are returned to the donor during the donation.

“The process of the apheresis test wasn’t bad at all like I thought it would be. I left the gym in a happy state knowing that my blood could be used to save someone else’s life,” said junior Doug Schmeider.

Before actually getting the blood taken, donors had to fill out paperwork and get their fingers pricked for a little bit of blood. This blood is tested for iron, to make sure there is a sufficient amount in order to donate.

One nurse I spoke to, Karen, said, “Some may have been denied due to recent tattoos which are a cause to Hepatitis and they also could have been denied by being underweight.”  Height has to correspond with weight. Daniela Campino said, “I was denied because I didn’t weigh enough.  I really wish I could have donated.”

I, too, experienced my first blood donation, walking into the gym with a calm mind but once I was on the stretcher I began to get nervous and started to shake. In about 10 minutes, I was all done! The shaking continued but soon enough I was back on my feet. It definitely wasn’t as bad as I imagined t it would be.

If you missed this blood drive, make sure you are there in February! Save a life and donate blood! You could be the reason someone else is living right now.