Tracy High students donate blood to save lives
Junior Brandon Medrano donates blood for the first time.
December 12, 2013
Fifty-five Tracy High School students donated blood at the school’s annual blood drive sponsored by the Delta Blood Bank on Dec. 4.
Students from the leadership class advertised the blood drive at both lunch periods to get students interested.
“Our advertising is only a small portion of what gets the students interested. Usually when a student says they are donating, their friends become interested,” Student Blood Drive Advisor Melissa Clark said. “It spreads by word of mouth.”
On Dec. 4, the Boys’ Sub Gym was transformed into the donation center. When first entering, there was a table where leadership students signed the donors in. They were then handed a packet of paperwork that they had to fill out. The packet ensured that they had clean blood.
A drop of blood was then taken from each student’s finger, and then they were ready to donate. Beds were laid out for the donors to lie on as they donated blood. There was also a table with snacks and refreshments for the donors to rejuvenate themselves.
The Delta Blood Bank has been coming to Tracy High School for more than 10 years collecting students’ blood.
“All blood donated to the Delta Blood Bank is used within the community. We service 15 local hospitals, so you can be secure your donation was used to help someone here in our area,” Cindy Cox, of the Delta Blood Bank, said.
Junior Brandon Medrano was a first time donor, and he plans on donating again.
“My friend told me that he was donating for the blood drive, and that is what got me thinking. I figured I could give it a shot,” Medrano said.
Junior Andrew Bartholomew also donated.
“I was really excited to donate. Once the lady form the Delta Blood Bank got the needle out, I started to get kind of worried, but it did not really hurt. The anticipation was the worst part,” Bartholomew said.
Donating blood has even put some students in the holiday spirit.
“Around the holidays I don’t always get people the best gifts, but that changed this year. I gave someone the gift of life by donating my blood,” Medrano said, “Honestly; this is the coolest gift I could have ever given.”
Tracy High School will be hosting another blood drive in the spring.
