On a balmy early November morning, two busses armed only with medical assistants, needles, blood bags, and paperwork, rolled onto the Edgewater Campus with the hope that Edgewater students would feel the calling to donate blood and potentially save lives. The students did.

“I wanted to donate blood to help people that need it. There’s so many things in the world that people want to do something about, but can’t. This is an easy way to help out because they [the Blood Mobile] come to you…and it’s free,” said Nakiyia White, 12th grade.

Junior Sychelia Gainer stated, “I wanted to help the needy. A lot of people should help.”

A true sense of altruism was felt as students waited outside of the bus awaiting their turn on the inside.

The two busses, sponsored by Florida’s Blood Center, housed several reclined beds meant to comfort the tension felt by those about to donate. Most who met the criteria of being 16 or older, over 110 pounds, and not suffering from an infectious disease, donated, and potentially saved three lives each.

Over 90 students showed up for their appointments, of which 64 units were donated to the cause. The top reasons for donating included simply wanting to leave class, to a dying hunger for cookies, or for the more noble, altruistic cause of wanting to save lives, which a third of donors reported to wanting.

By day’s end the Blood Mobile had to turn students back as the lines grew too large and the school day was coming to a close. Some students seized the opportunity to donate by attending after school dismissal.

However, not all donors were eligible to give blood. Several factors deterred and rejected students from giving blood including low iron levels, recent tattoos, too small of veins and possibility of spreading infectious diseases. The more prevalent cause for concern amongst the students was fear: fear of the needles, fear of blood, fear of passing out.

On average, the entire process of waiting, filling out paper work, waiting, sitting in line, waiting, and finally donating took about 45 minutes to an hour to complete, meaning that those who intended on missing class (about 25% of the students surveyed) got their wish.

Of the 90 students about 45% said this was their second, third, or fourth time they had donated, which is music to the ears of the Florida Blood Center seeing as ten percent of their inventory comes from high school students in the Central Florida area.

The remaining 55% who were donating for the first time reported having little apprehension towards donating. Most seemed eager to donate and help the needy, including several first timers (anonymous) who wished to donate because they had family members who have had medical conditions such as cancer, conditions that have the potential for needing blood coming from donors.

“I want to donate again,” Sara Jewett (senior) enthusiastically exclaimed.

The buses are schedule to make two more appearances on Edgewater’s campus this year: once in early February and again in April. So stand in the line, fill out the paperwork, answer the questions, donate the blood, eat the cookie, sip the juice, and save the many lives needing blood.