Earlier this year, on September 16, Hamburg Area High School’s student council hosted a blood drive through the Miller-Keystone Blood Center, a non-profit organization that provides “60% of the blood products” in the United States, which wants to “save lives” by getting other organizations to host blood drives through their company. There were sixteen participants.
The Miller-Keystone Blood Center facilitates not only whole blood but also platelets and plasma. As of September 23, Miller-Keystone Blood Center is in critical need of type AB-, O-, and O+ blood; they urgently need platelets. Their priority is A-, A+, and B- blood, and they have a stable supply of B+, AB+, and AB Platelets.
If anyone would like to donate blood, there is a donation building in Allentown, Bethlehem, Reading, and many other places. If the donor is 16 or under, however, they will need a permission slip filled out by their parent or guardian.
Alexis Freeland, a student at Hamburg Area High School, got a chance to sign up and participate in the blood drive. This was her first time giving blood, and she did not know what to expect. She became anxious, but stays motivated because she knew there was “always a need for blood, and donating is an easy way to make a real impact.” When asked why she was so motivated to give blood, Alexis simply responded: “I like the idea that something so simple for me could help save someone’s life.”
During the donating process, she described it as “easier than I [she] thought” and how it was a lot less painful than expected. Even after the pain she experienced, the nurses taking the blood had made her feel comfortable the entire time.
Alexis believes that there is great importance to donating blood to organizations such as this. “Donating blood saves lives,” she says, “Hospitals always need it, and just one donation can help multiple people. It’s something simple that almost anyone can do to support others in need.” And to those who were less confident to donate blood, she tells them not to be scared, “the process is quick and easy. Plus, you get the good feeling of knowing you’re helping someone who might really need it.”
For more information about donating blood, visit the Miller-Keystone Blood Center’s website at www.giveapint.org.
Photo via Pixabay.
