On Wednesday, NASH’s Health and Physical Education Department helped the non-profit organization Vitalant collect blood from student donors. During NASH’s latest blood drive, over 165 students decided to donate blood to Vitalant.
The blood drive started at 7:00 a.m. and ended at 12:15 p.m.
“If you are well-hydrated, it only takes 10-15 minutes,” NASH Health and PE teacher Mr. Hook said. “The longest part is filling out the questionnaire and checking your iron level.”
If students are not properly hydrated, their blood cannot be used after collection.
“Normally, out of around 150 units, only 100 are donated for good use,” Hook explained. “Some people who donate don’t stay hydrated, which leads to blood clotting.”
Hook himself has donated for the past two years, but he has only done one type of donation.
“I did whole blood. I have never done Power Red,” Hook said, referring to a process whereby volunteers donate two units of red blood cells but have their platelets and plasma returned.
Jack Simons, a NASH senior, decided on Power Red.
“Power Red is not just giving blood,” he said. “You are receiving half of it back, which threw me off. I got very light-headed.”
Simons has more experience than most of his peers.
“In the fall, I donated whole blood,” he said.
Sai Sri Sowgandhika Ramadugu, a junior from NASH, had not donated blood before last Wednesday.
“Before the blood drive, I was scared but kind of excited because this is important for many people,” she said. “After the blood drive, I felt a little nauseous and weak, but after some time, I felt better.”
Even with these drawbacks, Ramadugu said she wants to donate blood again.
“Blood is desperately needed by many people,” she said, “so you get to make a small but good change in the world. And another plus is the snacks.”
Other than the preliminary questionnaire, the longest part of the day for most student donors was the resting period that followed the donation. Nurses advised students to make sure to drink enough water and eat a lot of food as well.
NASH Health and PE teacher Mrs. Roman was pleased with the turnout last week.
“We donated 95 units yesterday,” she said.
