Community Blood Center visits THS

On May 25, 2012, the Community Blood Center visited Talawanda High School to receive blood donations from willing high school students wanting to give the gift of life. Students could make appointments via the organization’s sign-up website, www.donortime.com.

The process was relatively swift and efficient, and it took place in the school’s gymnasium, giving plenty of space for all the donators and staff. To start, donators signed in, using a picture ID and a donor identification card, if they have one.

The next phase was the physical check-up, which reviews health history and makes sure the donor is in good blood-donating condition. They check your blood pressure, temperature, and pulse, as well as a hemoglobin test. For this, the nurse draws blood into an incredibly thin vial and puts some into a mixture of calcium sulfate. If the blood sinks to the bottom of the container within fifteen seconds, the donor has enough red blood cells at a healthy weight to go through with the process.

Before the procedure actually occurs, the CBC requires you drink an entire bottle of water. This makes sure dehydration doesn’t occur during the process.

After that, the long-awaited fun begins. A nurse brings the donor to a table and checks both arms for good veins to draw blood from. They clean the area for a good thirty seconds and wrap a stretchy band around the forearm to pump up the veins. Then the needle goes in. For several minutes, the blood collects in a bag. Then a nurse collects the bag, puts pressure on the wound to stop it from bleeding, and releases you after a short rest.

One of the best parts about blood donation is the rewards the come afterwards. Donators are given cookies, chips, candy, and lemonade (to replace blood sugar), as well as a t-shirt.