The American Red Cross Teams with CUSD for Blood Drive
Photo courtesy of redcrossblood.org
A Red Cross Member holds box of donations for hospital delivery. Each drive marks a positive turning point for many patients in need, and the October 26th drive with CUSD is no exception to that goal.
October 14, 2021
The non-profit organization American Red Cross dedicates countless hours to collecting blood donations for hospitals and its patients. Blood inventory, however, is at its lowest storage since 2015, and the need for contributions is more than consequential.
To aid this problem, The American Red Cross is organizing a blood drive on Tuesday, October 26th 2021. It will take place from 11:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the District Office Board Room, located at 33122 Valle Road, San Juan Capistrano, 92675.
This collaboration is nothing new for CUSD, as the district has been working with the organization for almost 15 years now.
It’s important to get students involved with hosting blood drives to help them share the need for blood and if they are at least age 16 they can even donate themselves
— Jessie Salmon
“We have worked with CUSD District Office since 2006 and have collected 1,073 pints of life-saving blood. Each pint can help to save up to 3 lives,” said Jessie Salmon, an account manager for The American Red Cross.
In the past, a well known drive at SJHHS hosted with The American Red Cross in 2017 had successful efforts directed to helping with the Las Vegas shooting that fall. This drive, along with the years of collaboration with CUSD, has collectively worked to save a total of 3,219 patients.
Although, SJHHS has not worked with The American Red Cross since 2019, so a donation from eligible members of the community would be greatly appreciated by the organization
According to The American Red Cross website, requirements include that a person must be at least 16, in good health, and weigh a minimum of 110 lbs.
“It’s important to get students involved with hosting blood drives to help them share the need for blood and if they are at least age 16 they can even donate themselves,” said Salmon.
For individuals who are ineligible, there are still various ways to get involved and support the cause. Volunteering at a drive for any amount of time is helpful, or students can join the recruitment team to better associate themselves with the process and the efforts of the organization.
“There is also a sleeves up campaign which is a virtual blood drive that they can host to encourage those who are eligible to donate.”
Students, parents, and teachers alike are all encouraged to attend the October 26th blood drive, and support the cause. Accumulating less than a day’s supply of certain blood types, a single donation may make all the difference.
