Carlmont community unites for the blood drive

One person donating blood can save up to three lives. Many Carlmont students are coming together to help achieve this at the bi-annual blood drive, which occurs in the fall and the spring. 

The drive will be held in the Student Union on Oct. 26, organized in part by the blood donation company Vitalant. The Lead Facilitator of the Associated Student Body’s (ASB) Community Service Commission, Isabelle Kraemer, explained that Vitalant will come to draw the blood and process it before it undergoes several tests and is sent out to hospitals to help patients. 

“I’ve helped my commission contact the organization and plan with the school. It’s a pretty heavy process with many important tasks, so we delegate roles and I oversee all responsibilities,” Kraemer said. 

Kraemer explained that there are height and weight restrictions for participants, certain medications they cannot take, as well as the requirement that they are 16 years old. This year, more than 50 students and staff plan to join the event. 

Junior Audrey Wong explained that she’s excited about her first year participating.

“I just want to do something that I know is going to help other people, so I think the blood drive really worthwhile, and at such little cost to me,” Wong said.  

The process is fairly quick; most appointments only take approximately a pint of blood, which takes about 10 minutes. Including the sign-in, pre-check, and recovery, the whole process is approximately an hour. Kraemer added that it can take slightly longer if students sign up for Power Red donation, where they take two units of red blood cells and return the other blood components. 

While Kraemer hasn’t been able to participate in the past, she enjoys helping organize and support the event in any way that she can. She emphasized how important it is that it directly benefits the surrounding community.  

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“And, not only is the blood able to save lives, I think it actually creates a really welcoming environment within our school. For many, donating blood is a scary process, but I’m glad that we are able to foster a community where people feel empowered to overcome this fear in order to save a life,” Kraemer said. 

Carlmont ASB director, Jim Kelly, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the positivity of the community aspect. 

“I believe the blood drive gives our school the opportunity to give back or make a difference in the world and feel good about being able to do so, which is really nice,” Kelly said.