At least 111 lives were saved thanks to the efforts of Fairfield County High School students, faculty and staff on Sept. 19.
Blood was shed in the school auditorium area but in a controlled, planned way, as those persons gathered to donate blood to the American Red Cross.
This fall 37 pints of blood were donated. According to the Red Cross, at least one donation can help save the lives of up to three people.
Fairfield Central High School Media Specialist Sarah L. Trani helped coordinate the event along with long time Red Cross Blood Drive Volunteer Coordinator Francis Lee O’Neal.
Blood donors received the usual fare of juice and cookies but for students there was another gift they could work toward.
Senior Katelyn Adams said that students who had donated at every blood drive were eligible to donate at will receive a red cord to wear during spring graduation.
Senior Rebecca Boyd had given blood before at Fairfield Central High School and said that most of her friends give blood, too. She gave last year and it makes her feel special to be able to help fill a crucial community need such as the supply of available blood.
The blood donations have been sent to a blood component laboratory operated by the Red Cross.
There the donations will be processed into red blood cells, plasma, platelets and possibly, cryoprecipitate. According to the Red Cross website, a single blood donation, therefore, can help up to three people.
Less than 38 percent of the U.S. population is eligible to give blood, according to the Red Cross, which is another reason efforts such as this drive at FCHS are imperative for local communities.
Now those FCHS donors’ blood plasma is being regenerated and they are growing new red blood cells so they can be ready to donate again in 56 days.
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