Staff and Students Bleed for a Good Cause with Stanford Drive
The number of student donors has been falling short of projected expectations in recent years.
By Sharon Kim
The number of student donors has been falling short of projected expectations in recent years.
By Sharon Kim
On Nov. 6, Stanford Blood Center conducted its biannual blood drive. Pioneer has consistently volunteered for the Stanford Blood Center for over 20 years. Stanford also visits high schools all over the Bay Area as they need to supply 1200 units of blood every week to meet the demand of local hospitals to ensure people can get the life-saving blood that they need.
Traditionally, Pioneer has donated approximately 70 to 80 units, with expectations of 95 to 105 participants. However, there has been a 10-year declining pattern of blood donors, reflected in the last three years of drives. Once, finding 180 eligible students was normal. On Nov. 14 of last year, Stanford only received 70 pints of blood, and on May 22 they only managed 69 pints. This year, although they expected 64 pints, they only managed to bring in 55. One factor leading to smaller numbers this year was a scheduling issue that made many student donors ineligible based on the time of their last donation.
Stanford Blood Center account manager Elisa Manzanares said that one of the issues with young donors is making sure they meet the health and legal requirements to be able to donate, some, like height and weight minimums, can be a challenge for young students.
“For young donors we want to make sure the donor has a blood volume of at least 3500 ml to better prevent a reaction. Various nomograms for estimating total blood volume are generally a function of donor height, weight and gender” said Manzanares.
Blood as a vital resource is always fluctuating in supply and ever-growing in demand. However, there’s been a shifting imbalance between the two slowly leading to a steady demand for more blood.
“Estimates put the growth in demand for blood at 2%-3% per year. However, the pool of eligible blood donors is declining,” said Manzanares.
Service learning student Alexandra Silva, 11, felt compelled to support the cause of donating blood upon seeing the crucial necessity for it.
“I decided to donate mostly as a result of learning how important blood is in the process of treating patients, for many the abundance of available blood means life or death,” said Silva.
These high school blood drives may appear to play minor roles, however, their impact is essential.
Collins McCulluy, a worker for the Blood Center, emphasizes that every pint counts in critical times.
“We have people in hospitals all around the Bay Area that need five, six units of blood, up to 60,” said McCulluy. “We have had people that used 60 units of blood in one hospital stay.”
“High schools and colleges make up about 20% of the blood supply. Our first-time donors are very integral to an adequate blood supply,” said Manzanares.
For some students, hesitation to donate blood due to fear, circumstance or reservation is normal. But if capable, rest assured that the nurses are determined to guide you through the process.
“Don’t look, first of all, and relax, take a deep breath, we know what we are doing, we will guide you through the process and you are going to be completely safe and not harmed in any way,” said McCulluy.
Yearbook adviser Theresa Udell has type O- blood and finds herself at the blood bank often yet doesn’t mind it.
“I like to donate blood because it's a pretty easy way for me to give back to the community. I have an O- blood type and so that's the universal donor so I feel like it's kind of my responsibility to provide for those who are in need,” said Udell.
Traditionally, Pioneer has donated approximately 70 to 80 units, with expectations of 95 to 105 participants. However, there has been a 10-year declining pattern of blood donors, reflected in the last three years of drives. Once, finding 180 eligible students was normal. On Nov. 14 of last year, Stanford only received 70 pints of blood, and on May 22 they only managed 69 pints. This year, although they expected 64 pints, they only managed to bring in 55. One factor leading to smaller numbers this year was a scheduling issue that made many student donors ineligible based on the time of their last donation.
Stanford Blood Center account manager Elisa Manzanares said that one of the issues with young donors is making sure they meet the health and legal requirements to be able to donate, some, like height and weight minimums, can be a challenge for young students.
“For young donors we want to make sure the donor has a blood volume of at least 3500 ml to better prevent a reaction. Various nomograms for estimating total blood volume are generally a function of donor height, weight and gender” said Manzanares.
Blood as a vital resource is always fluctuating in supply and ever-growing in demand. However, there’s been a shifting imbalance between the two slowly leading to a steady demand for more blood.
“Estimates put the growth in demand for blood at 2%-3% per year. However, the pool of eligible blood donors is declining,” said Manzanares.
Service learning student Alexandra Silva, 11, felt compelled to support the cause of donating blood upon seeing the crucial necessity for it.
“I decided to donate mostly as a result of learning how important blood is in the process of treating patients, for many the abundance of available blood means life or death,” said Silva.
These high school blood drives may appear to play minor roles, however, their impact is essential.
Collins McCulluy, a worker for the Blood Center, emphasizes that every pint counts in critical times.
“We have people in hospitals all around the Bay Area that need five, six units of blood, up to 60,” said McCulluy. “We have had people that used 60 units of blood in one hospital stay.”
“High schools and colleges make up about 20% of the blood supply. Our first-time donors are very integral to an adequate blood supply,” said Manzanares.
For some students, hesitation to donate blood due to fear, circumstance or reservation is normal. But if capable, rest assured that the nurses are determined to guide you through the process.
“Don’t look, first of all, and relax, take a deep breath, we know what we are doing, we will guide you through the process and you are going to be completely safe and not harmed in any way,” said McCulluy.
Yearbook adviser Theresa Udell has type O- blood and finds herself at the blood bank often yet doesn’t mind it.
“I like to donate blood because it's a pretty easy way for me to give back to the community. I have an O- blood type and so that's the universal donor so I feel like it's kind of my responsibility to provide for those who are in need,” said Udell.