One hundred and eighty one units of blood were collected for the Community Blood Bank during the second blood drive of the school year held on March 13 and 14 in the Coachella Valley High School mini gym. Students over the age of 17 and staff members gathered to donate blood to help their community and to compete for the traveling trophy the blood bank awards each year to the school collecting the most pints of blood.
“The donated blood goes to hospitals to help injured people and those who need blood,” said Trisha Lecompton, a blood bank assistant. In addition to providing a valuable community service, Ms. Lecompton says, “Most schools do this to have a little competition with other schools. Whoever collects more units of blood gets the trophy to keep at their school.”
That may be true for other schools, but not at CV. Seniors here have long viewed donating blood for the first time as part of the senior experience. Most who sign up, roll up their sleeve, and suffer through the stick of the needle do so to make a difference in their community.
“I feel it is important to help out our community and others. If we can save a life by donating blood, why not do it? Saving someone’s life is a great feeling,” says Maria Ruvalcaba, a senior.
Senior Crystal Lopez says, “My blood type is very rare so when I donate blood, I know I’m donating for a good cause.”
Some students like senior Sandra Cumplido were disappointed when they found out they could not donate because of a low iron count.
“I couldn’t donate blood because of my low iron level. Next time, I am going to prepare myself so I can be able to donate,” says Sandra
“I couldn’t give blood the first day because my iron was a few points lower than what it should have been, but the staff told me what to do and the next day my iron was high enough,” says Adrianna Hernandez, a senior.
Eating a good breakfast before donating is important and one of the recommendations the blood bank makes for all donors.
“I made sure I had a good breakfast so I wouldn’t have my iron low and could donate blood, which I did. I’m happy,” says Beethzzy Ruiz, a junior.
Senior Brianda Valenzuela was pleased, as well. “I felt scared but excited at the same time. I was just hoping I wouldn’t cry and the needle wouldn’t hurt as much. At the end, things were good and I did just fine.”
Science teacher Paul Klopfenstein, C.V.’s blood drive coordinator, has some words of encouragement for all potential donors.
“We collected one hundred eighty one units and we are fourteen units from being tied with La Quinta high school,” he says. “We had the trophy for four years. We can’t let La Quinta keep it for two years; so we need to bring it back.”
There is one more blood drive this year on May 22 & 23 to help our community and to bring the trophy back to CV.
To be eligible to donate blood, you must...
...be 17 years of age or older
...weigh at least 110 pounds
...pass the mini-physical (blood pressure, temperature, pulse and iron levels)
...eat a good breakfast