The San Diego Blood Bank came to San Dieguito Academy Tuesday Nov. 17 to an impressive donor turnout. According to senior Courtney Walsh, ASB School Board Rep, the maximum number of signups to donate, which was around 70 students, was reached. Students had signed up in the ASB room over the past few weeks, putting their name on the call list and turning in their permission slips. Students arrived today and filled out a form reporting their health in order to avoid donated blood being unusable.
Walsh said that many people got turned away due to high blood pressure, low iron levels, or for currently being sick. Other reasons for donor denial included taking certain medications, traveling to and or receiving medical care in specific countries, and having pulse out of the required range.
Those who were deemed able to give blood safely went on to sit in the patient chairs. After donating, they sat for a minute to avoid possible fainting or other reactions to the loss of blood. Then they moved to a mat area where they stayed for the required 15 minutes of observation and enjoyed snacks, drinks, and a movie.
Students ages 15 and 16 were allowed to participate with a special permission slip and a parent’s signature, and in what ASB stated was a precautionary measure, students ages 17 and above were required to get their parents signature as well. Altruistic students can rest assured that the donated blood will be put to good use; the San Diego Blood Bank will use the blood to help people in a variety of ways at local hospitals.