Blair's blood drive "a success"

The blood drive held at Blair on Nov. 10 drew nearly 70 Blazers both willing and qualified to donate their blood, collecting over 60 pints on behalf of the American Red Cross.

The event was a collaboration of the SGA, American Red Cross representatives and student volunteers. Senior Max Lockwood and junior Vijay Baharani, who orchestrated the collection, were pleased with the student participation and overall yield. According to Baharani, around 145 students signed up in advance, well over the 50 he had hoped would attend.

About 55 of the students who signed up did not report on the donation day, but the 90 who did had to pass a series of screenings before they were allowed to give blood. Only individuals older than 17 were allowed to participate without parental consent, but students as young as 16 could give blood with a parental permission form. The donors over the age requirement were then asked to provide details including recent foreign travel, known blood diseases and blood type. Blood was also screened for abnormal iron content.

The SGA and volunteers are aiming to coordinate another blood drive this spring, Baharani said.