Some students and staff members at Danville High School stepped-up Wednesday to help address a central Illinois blood shortage. Community Blood Services of Illinois turned the DHS Little Theater into a blood collection center.
Teri McCarthy (shown here), a donor relations consultant for Community Blood Services, noted that because of the holidays and recent weather, blood supplies in our area need a boost…
{‘’Last week we lost more than 300 anticipated units of blood due to the weather,’’ said McCarthy. ‘’And we currently are in need of red blood cells of all types, but (are) particularly low on B-positive, B-negative red cells. Type O donors are also in high demand for red cells.’’}
McCarthy notes the blood that is collected has a shelf life and cannot be frozen….
(Charge Nurse John Buss prepares 18-year-old D.H.S. senior Corey Lungrin to give blood.)
{‘’Most people don’t realize that the shelf life of a unit of whole blood is only 42 days. You’ve got to imagine that your blood needs to be tested to keep it safe – so at least two of those days…your blood is being tested.’’}
Sixteen-year-old Danville High School junior Nazaria Acuna was one of those who donated blood Wednesday….
{‘’I feel pretty good about it, like, you know just giving to people in need. And the people who are taking it are really nice,’’ said Acuna during an interview with VermilionCountyFirst.com News.} Wednesday’s blood drive was sponsored by the Math Department at Danville High School. One of the teachers in that department has donated over 3 gallons of blood during her life.
(Students spent time relaxing after donating blood. NOTE: You can click on the photos to enlarge them.)
