On Oct. 12, HHS had a school blood drive that was sponsored by the Memorial Blood Drive Center. Prior to the blood drive, students  were sent an email providing information about the blood drive. The email stated that students 17 and older could sign themselves up but students 16 and under  have to have parent permission in order to donate.

According to the Memorial Blood Drive center website, they’ve been saving lives for 65 years. The Memorial Blood Drive center is a  Minnesota based and non profit organization, and it’s Minnesota largest community blood center.

The Memorial Blood Drive Center  is striving to value integrity, respect, synergy, service and excellence. About one in seven people who enter a hospital will need blood  an estimated five million people need blood transfusions each year in the U.S. Ms. Bobbi Pointer, HHS nurse directs the  blood drive and is very passionate about students donating blood.

“Each unit of blood a person donates can save 3 people’s lives. Blood goes to people who are severely sick with cancer and other fatal injuries. “Its great to see kids donate blood,” Pointer said.

HHS will have this event three times a year so students that want to donate but don’t have time don’t miss their opportunity to donate blood.

“I’m nervous about donating because I don’t want it to hurt. But it makes me feel good saving someone’s life and that is why I’m doing it,” said Lydsey Thompson, junior.

Dahkayla Walker, junior, donated blood and was nervous as well as she sat in  the waiting section.

“I’m nervous because I don’t like needles and the only thing that is getting me through my nervousness is that in the end I’m going to save someone’s life,” Walker said.

For some students donating might not be a scary thing, especially not for Jonathan Goins, junior at HHS.

“I’m not nervous about donating,” Goins said.

There were two options for donating blood. There  was an option to double your blood count and then there was the  regular blood donation. Brandon Walling, junior, chose to take the second blood donation option.

“My procedure took longer because I chose the double blood cell procedure,” Walling said.

Teachers, as well as students donated blood at HHS. Mr. Habel, chemistry teacher donated blood.

“I think it’s something we can all do to donate blood because it’s easy,” Habel said. “I usually tell all of my students in all of my classes to donate blood and it makes me feel very good seeing students that I teach donate blood.”