Each year FPD hosts two to three blood drives on campus. Students ages 16 and older along with parents, faculty, and friends are invited to give blood. The drives, led by the American Red Cross, are student organized and coordinated. We wanted to check in with one of this year’s student organizers, Lindsey Watson, on why she felt the blood drive was an important way to serve others. The next FPD Blood Drive takes place Monday, September 10, 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. in the Clark Fine Arts Center lobby.
How does a blood drive benefit our community?
A blood drive benefits the community because it helps people who are sick or injured get well again and gives our hospitals supplies that could be hard to acquire. Also, about 4 million people annually have a chance to live their life into old age because of blood transfusions.
Why did you want to take on the project of organizing the blood drive?
If I were in the hospital and needed a blood transfusion, I would be grateful for anyone who gave blood or who took the time to organize a blood drive to help save people’s lives. Also, taking on the project of organizing a blood drive gives a person experience that they are likely to need later in life. It helps you communicate with people and overall tests your organizational skills.
What have you learned about blood drives since beginning the process?
The process is a bit harder than I thought it would be. When asking people to give blood through a blood drive, there are more people that say no, than yes. Some people are afraid of needles, and some cannot give blood because of the some medicine they are on. It takes time but eventually there are people who sign up to give blood for the blood drive.
What can students do to volunteer for the drive?
Students can volunteer to help us by either giving blood or signing people in when they arrive at the blood drive. If a person is under eighteen, they will need a parental consent form signed before they can show up and give blood. (You can pick up parental consent forms at the High School Office.)
What would you like people to know about giving blood?
People should drink a lot of water and eat before coming to a blood drive. The process of giving blood will go faster if a person is hydrated. Eating food will greatly decrease any possibility of passing out as well. What most people get turned away for is iron deficiency or weight. There are many people who want to give blood but do not weigh enough to do so or because their iron is too low. It is also a good idea for a person to eat meat in advance to giving blood.
