By: Sutton Rizzo
On May 2, Wallenpaupack hosted a blood drive. Not only students, but also teachers and for the final two hours of the event, the community also donated blood. There were 38 total units of blood donated from among 49 potential donors. This allowed the team to hit the goal of 38, which allowed upgrades the scholarship money that the American Red Cross donates to one senior each year.
Each person donated one unit of red blood cells, but should they meet certain requirements, such as age and blood type, he or she could donate two units of red blood cells using a machine that returned their plasma and white blood cells back to them. The blood will be screened and then distributed across the country. The blood also has a certain shelf life, which receivers need to be wary of. The Blood Drive uses the process used by the American Red Cross, which involves medical history review, extensive cleaning of entry site, inserting the needle, drawing the blood, and recovery.
Overall, this event is great to help not only the community, but also the country. This blood can be used to help ill people and is overall a great cause that is happening here at Wallenpaupack.
