This past Saturday, May 30th, from 10 a.m.–2 p.m., a blood drive was held at Town Hall Mather Cafe by the Connecticut Blood Center, the Darien Department of Health, and DHS’s new HOSA chapter. This chapter was founded this year by Adult Advisor Mrs. Ritz, President Jamie Spataro, and Vice President Juliette Gaber, making this the chapter’s first participation in a local health care event.
For the entire month of May, the students had been working diligently, creating and compiling educational materials, schedules, and promotional pieces to help the blood drive gain traction, staff the event, and further inform the public about their possible health care needs. The chapter created informational pieces on a wide variety of general and season-related topics, including: The ABCDEs of Melanoma, Skin Cancer Prevention, Tick Season Awarenes, Know Your Numbers and Annual physical encouragement.
Some of these materials included “freebies” such as mini sunscreens and tweezers with a mirror attached to make ticks more easily visible. The students staffed this informational table, with all their materials serving as a resource for the town to raise awareness about select health related topics.
The students also staffed a refreshment table to ensure that the donors’ energy and nutrient levels were replenished with snacks and beverages including Oreos, SunChips, and a variety of assorted juices. Donors are advised to eat and drink immediately after giving blood to help restore blood sugar and prevent dizziness or fatigue. Ninth Grader Oliver Katz says, ” It felt like a small action, but making sure people had easy access to food and drink options was in some way showing our appreciation for their generosity within the community.”
One student member, Ninth Grader Alex Brindley, said, “This blood drive was a great opportunity to combine both community involvement and interest in the medical field.” Another member, Vice President Tenth Grader Juliette Gaber, commented, “Jamie [President] and I had to work closely with 2 other health care units, the Connecticut Blood Center and Brittany Roy from the Darien Department of Health, allowing us to form early relationships that can be utilized in years to come for our chapter.”
At the end, the drive had about 30 participants donating blood that could be used for a variety of medical reasons. These blood donations are separated into four main components: Red Blood Cells, White Blood Cells, Platelets, and Plasma, which allow one donation to help multiple patients. Donors could choose what type of donation they wanted to participate in, with most choosing a whole blood donation, donating all four components.
Although blood has a variety of uses, its shelf life is minimal, making frequent blood donations a vital part of the health care system. During donations, the staff must make sure the blood is stored in a way that it is constantly moving to ensure that it does not coagulate while out of the body. Some uses for donations include: trauma patients, premature babies, people with blood disorders who need regular transfusions, and cancer patients. Given these diverse needs for blood and its inability to be properly manufactured in a lab, volunteer donations remain the only way to keep clinics and hospitals stocked with the resources they need to save lives.
Ultimately, the success of the blood drive reflects the main purpose of HOSA, connecting students to the health care field in a hands-on and meaningful way. As the chapter grows, events like this will serve as a foundation for the future, creating long-lasting ties within the Darien community.
