Big Needles and Blue Arm Bands Highlight BASH Blood Drive

T.J. Grant, Staff Writer|November 11, 2016

Blood Donation Statistics

1.4.5 million Americans would die each year without life-saving blood transfusions.

2.Just one pint of donated blood can help save as many as three people’s lives.

3.Approximately 32,000 pints of blood are used each day in the United States.

4.Children being treated for cancer, premature infants, and children having heart surgery need blood and platelets from donors of all types.

5.In the days following the September 11th attacks, a half a million people donated blood.

Over 100 students and staff gave blood in the school’s most recent drive November 10th.

All students 17 and older were eligible to participate, unless they had tattoos or piercings or did not weigh at least 110 pounds. Three blood mobiles were set up outside the auditorium lobby.

BASH Senior Trey Saylor said he gave blood because it was a way to help others.

“It is the right thing to do and my blood can be of use to someone else.”

The school nurse said the restrictions on giving blood are in place for safety reasons.

“The rules about tattoos and piercings are about safety,” School Nurse Mrs. Debra Holauchock, RN, said. “It’s just a one-year waiting to see if infections develop, like HIV or hepatitis.”

Mrs. Holauchock said overall the blood drive went very well.

“Even some of the construction workers came in and donated,” she said.