On Thursday, Oct. 2, members of Upper St. Clair High School’s National Honor Society hosted one of their semiannual blood drives in the gymnasium. Over 70 students donated blood.

Ms. Carlino, the NHS sponsor at the high school, reports, “[Thursday’s] blood drive was a record here for Upper St. Clair High School. In the past we have only had about 40 or 50 donations, but [this year we had] around 70 or 80 donations.”

Many students chose to donate because they wanted to help people in their community. Senior Christian Meyer says, “I heard [donating] could save up to three lives, and I figured it would be a good cause.”

Other students, including senior Meg Haggerty, felt connected to the cause. Haggerty, who distributed T-shirts from the Central Blood Bank to donors, has an uncle who needed a blood transfusion following his diagnosis with leukemia. She says, “It is really fulfilling to help with a cause like this that helps so many people. I will be donating later, but I wanted to [volunteer first].” Haggerty’s uncle has been healthy since he had his blood transfusion over 20 years ago.

NHS members could volunteer at the blood drive, even if they were not donating blood. Senior Emily Lloyd commented on her participation as a volunteer: “I could not donate because I have a big fear of needles, but I wanted to volunteer because [the blood drive is] a good cause. I think it is really cool that all of these people are donating.”

Volunteers like Lloyd helped students and teachers register when they arrived. They also served drinks to donors who felt lightheaded after they donated.

Once donors had registered, nurses checked their iron levels, their blood pressure, and their temperature. According to the Central Blood Bank, donors “must be in generally good physical health and feeling well [the day they donate].” In addition, donors must be at least 17 years old and weigh at least 110 pounds. Students can donate if they are 16 years old, but they need to have their parents sign consent forms before they donate.

The Central Blood Bank reports that 37 percent of the population is eligible to donate blood, but only 3 percent of Pittsburghers do. Its staff encourages eligible people to find the donor center nearest them. Pittsburghers can donate blood at donor centers, at local businesses, churches, schools, and community centers, and at mobile blood drives. (The Central Blood Bank hosts nearly 200 mobile drives each month!) Donors can donate whole blood as well as double red blood cells, platelets, and plasma as long as they meet specific health requirements.

USC NHS members have hosted blood drives at the high school for more than 25 years. Ms. Carlino is glad they have continued the tradition because she feels that blood drives are good “first experience[s] for the students.” The Central Blood Bank will return to USCHS in Feb. 2015 for the second blood drive.

For more information about donations, visit www.centralbloodbank.org or call 1-866-DONORS-1 (1-866-366-6771).