Burbank High Students Participate in Blood Drive

The Burbank High library was turned into a blood donation center on September 24th, when BHS students rolled up their sleeves to donate blood.

ASB Advisor Wendy Miller said over 70 students and eight teachers donated 92 units of blood that will be used by the University of Southern California's University Hospital and Norris Cancer Center.

The blood drive is sponsored by the ASB and is held once each semester at Burbank High. Students must be 16 years of age with a parent signature or older to participate.

Last March, BHS students donated 101 units of blood according to Kimberly Stone, Blood Donor Recruiter for Hemacare, the company contracted to provide blood donations for the USC hospitals. The blood is drawn by phlebotomists who are employees of Hemacare.

Jody DeVere, National Director of Sales and Marketing for Hemacare said the company targets high school student donors for a couple of reasons. "One, they're very healthy, and two, we want to start them young learning the importance of donating on a regular basis."

Some students were a little nervous about being subjected to the form of body piercing that's required to make a donation, but that didn't stop their participation.

"Scary? Not at all. It's just a needle," shrugged BHS Senior Jordan Cripps, who said this was his second time to donate blood.

"You get a little woozy afterwards. You've got to drink and eat stuff. I've eaten more than I should," he said, glancing at a table piled high with snack foods, juices and peanut butter sandwich makings.

"I thought it was going to hurt a little bit, but it's more mind over matter," Senior Amanda Hall said as she made her donation. "It really didn't hurt. She did a good job," she said, referring to phlebotomist Candice Prickett.

According to DeVere, there's always a shortage of blood products and only 5% of the entire population in the United States ever donates blood once in their life. "It is definitely something you teach the importance and the value of doing," she said.

"People need blood and hospitals need supplies," Hall said, "so it's a good thing for our school to do."