The HOSA club at Concord High School, supported by students in the Health Science and Technology class at Concord Regional Technical Center, is holding a blood drive Wednesday, May 16, in the CHS gymnasium.
The event will take place for most of the day. Some students and staff members have already signed up to donate blood.
“Health Science makes sure we prepare everyone helping out with the blood drive to the best. In the fall we spent a class period talking about what jobs we will be doing and how to care for the people donating blood,” said Kara Denoncourt, one of the students involved.
“The blood drive supports the American Red Cross and for every one pint of blood donated, it saves an estimated three people who need blood in emergency situations,” she said.
In order to donate blood, people who are16 years old but not yet 18 must have a parent provide signed consent. Once people are 18 they can sign up themselves.
The American Red Cross recommends that blood donators in advance eat iron-rich foods such as red meat, fish, poultry, beans, spinach and iron-fortified cereals or raisins.
“Food has two types of iron — heme and non-heme iron. Heme iron is found in meat, fish and poultry. It is the form of iron that is most readily absorbed by your body. You absorb up to 30 percent of the heme iron that you consume. Eating meat generally boosts your iron levels far more than eating non-heme iron,” explains the American Red Cross on its website.
The American Red Cross also recommends that donators get a good night’s sleep the night before the donation and drink extra liquids – a recommended extra 16 oz.
“It’s very important to eat well and eat a dense breakfast before, drink LOTS of water, and get plenty of sleep the night before,” Denoncourt said.
“If you want to partake in this experience, just make sure you follow the rules,” said CHS junior Helen Massah, another Health and Science Technology student. “It’s for your safety and we want you to have a great time! It’s for a good cause!!”