This article was written by Walker Nunley
The high school is offering an opportunity for everyone to be a real life superhero. You can save lives and help people by devoting a little bit of your time. 4.5 million people’s lives are saved every year because of donated blood, if you want to be a part of that you should donate. This event is the Ted Burba memorial blood drive.
The blood drive is important because it saves many lives, and helps many people. Not only strangers, but even staff members have received blood from our own donations. If you are 16 or older you can donate and help the community. The blood drive is happening on Tuesday October 27th, 8am to 1:30pm in the high school small gym. If you want to sign up you need to fill out a waiver before the blood drive, these waivers are in room 1145.
Biology and criminalistics teacher Brian Bollone is the former director of the blood drive up until he passed it on to math teacher Olivia Brown. He is very passionate about wanting more people to donate to the cause.
“My favorite part is getting to hear from people who the blood has gone to. We often get reports from the blood center of who some of the people are that receive those donations, and we’ve even had staff members who’ve received blood from our own donations,” Bollone said.
This means the blood we donate doesn’t just go to strangers, but influences the lives of people in our own community. Knowing you helped someone that helps our school everyday must feel good. Sadly ever since COVID, the school has had trouble getting people to donate.
“We used to get 100 to 120 students every blood drive. And now we struggle to get 20” Bollone said.
English teacher Kathy Vogel, has been a consistent donator for the Ted Burba memorial blood drive and a donator outside of high school for the past 20 years.
“I think donating blood is important because from time to time, there’s horrific events that happen and people need blood. Or there’s illness, illnesses that require people to receive blood and we all have blood and we all have some to spare. And when we can help, we should,” Vogel said.
Vogel understands donating for the first time can be scary. She has several tips for anyone who’s feeling anxious about donating.
“The process is relatively simple. And mostly, it’s not painful, but they also tell you when they’re about to poke you,” Vogel said. “If you’re someone who gets a little squeamish or sick to your stomach when you see blood, you can easily look the other way. The actual process is done in less than 10 minutes.”
Math teacher Stephen Barthlow is also a consistent donator to the high school’s blood drive. He has donated for more than 10 years.
“I think donating is important because it’s something that can save people’s lives. Blood in hospitals is low. There is a blood shortage in hospitals. And so donating can help make sure that they have enough blood when patients need them,” Barthlow said.
Barthlow acknowledges that not everyone is able to donate because of specific rules. This is why teachers help and support is important.
“I think it’s important for teachers to donate, because we are definitely all old enough to. There are a few more kinds of criteria that goes into it. Like are you eligible to donate, but, for students, only half the school is old enough,” Barthlow said.
Senior Aryanna Hunt plans to donate blood at the Ted Burba memorial blood drive and donated last year. Hunt has O negative blood which means her blood can go to anyone. Since some blood types are more rare, it is beneficial for people with this blood type to donate since they are universal donors
“Physically, donating makes me feel powerful because I know I have the ability to have the capacity of blood I need while donating to others. Mentally, it makes me feel strong, because I’m doing something for the greater good,” Hunt said.
Hunt sees donating blood as a simple yet powerful act that can help the whole community.
“It’s just a poke and that poke can save someone’s life,” Hunt said.
The amount of people you can save just by donating blood is truly inspiring. The blood drive is a chance to take a small amount of your time to have a long term impact on someone’s life. If you’re feeling generous, participate in the Ted Burba memorial blood drive on October 27th, and become a real life superhero.
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