Student Council (STUCO) is putting on their annual blood drive for students and teachers. The American Red Cross will host the event on Jan. 31, 2014. Junior Caroline Young said, “I gave blood last year…my sister had a blood transfusion so I understand there’s a purpose and it’s important.”

Other students are taking notice of the benefits of giving blood and helping out in other ways. Junior Rachael Krajewski will be volunteering through STUCO. “I’m excited because we are saving lives and why not do all you can to help,” Krajewski said.

The blood drive takes place during the school day from 7:45 a.m. until 1:06 p.m. The students who signed up will be taken out of the class period of their choice to participate. They will go through a series of tests to examine health history and check the current blood levels (hemoglobin, blood pressure and pulse check). Senior Kourtney Wahl said, “I gained weight so I would be able to donate this year. I am privileged to be healthy enough to help people so I want to take advantage of that.”

Participants must be at least 110 lbs.  Once everything has been checked and registration is completed, participants will be brought to a bed with a certified Red Cross nurse who will sterilize an area near the inner elbow and insert a brand-new needle. It takes about 8-10 minutes for the pint size donation bag to fill. If queasy or dizzy, other beds are available to relax in after the donation is complete. The Red Cross also provides refreshments to allow your body to adjust back to normal and then students are sent back to class. It takes only 24 hours for your body to replenish the plasma and about six weeks for complete replacement of the blood taken in the donation.