Blood Drive gives students chance to save lives

Got Blood? This is the motto of the Community and Wellness Commission.

The commission hopes eligible donors come to the Nov. 2 Blood Drive held in the Small Gym.

“Blood donation is an easy way to save lives and we really want Saratoga High to support the community in this manner,” said senior head commissioner Vivek Murthy.

The commission will start promoting the event and releasing specific details after Homecoming week.

Students must be at least 16 to give blood if they have parental consent and need to be 17 without parental consent. Other restrictions include not having traveled to a third-world country in the past year and participants not being ill.

According to Murthy, donating blood requires little more than a slight pinch from the needle. Some students may feel lightheaded afterwards, but this can be easily resolved with an extra cup of fruit juice or cold water.  

“I was really nervous about donating last year, but it wasn’t painful at all. [It felt like] a tiny pinch,” said 2014 alumni Akshay Madhani.

As an extra incentive, the commission will give a surprise gift for the donors.

A final benefit, commissioners said, is that studies have shown donating blood is beneficial to the donor as well as the body is given a chance to produce new fresh blood.