Students Save Lives One Pint of Donated Blood at a Time
School community donates at Service Learning’s bi-annual blood drive hosted by Stanford Blood Center.
By Ariella Just Milender
School community donates at Service Learning’s bi-annual blood drive hosted by Stanford Blood Center.
By Ariella Just Milender
On Nov. 14, Pioneer’s Service Learning class hosted Stanford Blood Center for their bi-annual Blood Drive in the gym for students and staff. The blood drive, held in the fall and spring around six months apart since 2001, had 94 donors this fall, 83 of which donated for the first time, and collected 78 good pints of blood for Stanford Blood Center to be given to patients who need it most.
Many patients rely on blood transfusions for a multitude of conditions and incidents, including serious injuries, surgeries, childbirth, anemia and more. As part of treatments for Diamond Blackfan Anemia, Assistant Principal of Student Services Kiera Strockis’ son received blood transfusions using donated blood.
“If it wasn’t for donors and donor blood, my son wouldn’t be able to get the life-saving transfusions that he desperately needed,” said Strockis. “I don’t think people realize that when you donate blood you’re literally saving lives. Not just the lives of people like my son who chronically need them, but the lives of people in car accidents, of newborn babies, of people giving birth, of your friends and your neighbors”
History teacher Priya Talreja has also been personally treated with a blood transfusion using donated blood after having a medical emergency on campus while pregnant.
“(In) May 2019 I was pregnant with my twins and I actually passed out during my first period,” said Talreja. “ I was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance thanks to the efforts of my students, Mr. Perry, and the administration. At the hospital, I found out that I was deficient in blood due to a twin pregnancy, and so at the hospital I was given a blood transfusion to support myself and my unborn twins.”
For many students, such as Kenzie Hill, 12, this was their first time donating blood. Although initially nervous, she felt that the experience was fulfilling.
“I was super anxious so I was shaking like a leaf before they started, but once they got it in, the donation was pretty easy,” said Hill. “I would definitely recommend it, even if you’re scared of needles like I am- it’s a cool experience and you get to help people.”
Woodshop teacher Gary Stalions, who has donated for around 20 years, hopes that people will try to donate in the future if they can.
“I think if you can, you should give blood. You should at least try it, it is fairly easy. Sometimes (the initial one) can be scary but once (they) try it I hope people continue to do it and find out that it’s not that bad,” said Stalions.
Service Learning Student Lauren Chiu, 12, who helped coordinate the blood drive, felt that the event was successful.
“I think that the blood drive was successful because we were able to decrease our deferral rate from around 30% in the past to less than 10%. Also, with less sign-ups than we had hoped for, more pints of blood were donated than what Stanford had hoped for,” said Chiu.
Now more than ever, it is important for young people to continue to donate. Stanford Blood Center Accounts Manager Elisa Manzanares recognizes the impact young people will have as the future of blood donations.
“These donors are our future. As young people donate blood for the first time and become regular donors over the years, they will become what makes up the precious blood supply. Whether here at SBC, or elsewhere,” said Manzanares. “Our goal is to inspire and educate young people, so that wherever their path takes them in life, they will see a bloodmobile, or hear a plea for donations, and answer that call to action. We need their support now more than ever.”
Many patients rely on blood transfusions for a multitude of conditions and incidents, including serious injuries, surgeries, childbirth, anemia and more. As part of treatments for Diamond Blackfan Anemia, Assistant Principal of Student Services Kiera Strockis’ son received blood transfusions using donated blood.
“If it wasn’t for donors and donor blood, my son wouldn’t be able to get the life-saving transfusions that he desperately needed,” said Strockis. “I don’t think people realize that when you donate blood you’re literally saving lives. Not just the lives of people like my son who chronically need them, but the lives of people in car accidents, of newborn babies, of people giving birth, of your friends and your neighbors”
History teacher Priya Talreja has also been personally treated with a blood transfusion using donated blood after having a medical emergency on campus while pregnant.
“(In) May 2019 I was pregnant with my twins and I actually passed out during my first period,” said Talreja. “ I was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance thanks to the efforts of my students, Mr. Perry, and the administration. At the hospital, I found out that I was deficient in blood due to a twin pregnancy, and so at the hospital I was given a blood transfusion to support myself and my unborn twins.”
For many students, such as Kenzie Hill, 12, this was their first time donating blood. Although initially nervous, she felt that the experience was fulfilling.
“I was super anxious so I was shaking like a leaf before they started, but once they got it in, the donation was pretty easy,” said Hill. “I would definitely recommend it, even if you’re scared of needles like I am- it’s a cool experience and you get to help people.”
Woodshop teacher Gary Stalions, who has donated for around 20 years, hopes that people will try to donate in the future if they can.
“I think if you can, you should give blood. You should at least try it, it is fairly easy. Sometimes (the initial one) can be scary but once (they) try it I hope people continue to do it and find out that it’s not that bad,” said Stalions.
Service Learning Student Lauren Chiu, 12, who helped coordinate the blood drive, felt that the event was successful.
“I think that the blood drive was successful because we were able to decrease our deferral rate from around 30% in the past to less than 10%. Also, with less sign-ups than we had hoped for, more pints of blood were donated than what Stanford had hoped for,” said Chiu.
Now more than ever, it is important for young people to continue to donate. Stanford Blood Center Accounts Manager Elisa Manzanares recognizes the impact young people will have as the future of blood donations.
“These donors are our future. As young people donate blood for the first time and become regular donors over the years, they will become what makes up the precious blood supply. Whether here at SBC, or elsewhere,” said Manzanares. “Our goal is to inspire and educate young people, so that wherever their path takes them in life, they will see a bloodmobile, or hear a plea for donations, and answer that call to action. We need their support now more than ever.”