Many First Time Donors turn out for high school blood drive

Sept. 29, 2011 

Nearly 60 pints of blood were collected during the annual Watervliet High School Red Cross blood drive Wednesday, Sept. 28. Organizers say the blood collected during the event is enough to save between 175 and 230 lives.

Seventy three people, including students, teachers, staff and others, volunteered to give blood. Students who are 17 and older can donate. Students who are 16 and have parental permission can also give.

In addition to the high school community, several members of the community at large also participated. That included Watervliet Fire Chief Scott Skinner whose presence came in handy when the school’s fire alarm unexpectedly went off. Thanks to the chief’s assistance, the collection of valuable pints of blood was not interrupted by the false alarm.

“We have a great group of community members who always come out for our blood drives,” high school health teacher and event organizer Dennis Robinson said. “We also have the most number of first timers of any school in the area every year.”

Twenty-one percent of those who showed up to gave blood on Wednesday were first-time donors.

Several students also volunteered to work at the event all day. Megan Angus, Andrew Lynch, Amanda Iannone, Cym Sawyer and Andrew Keegan provided assistance to the donors and the Red Cross staff.

Another blood drive is being scheduled for the high school in May.