Shaler Area High School will be hosting the first in-person blood drive since COVID hit from 7:30- 1:30 on November 19th. If you wish to sign up and help save 3 lives, sign ups start Monday, November 15th. Vitalant, the nonprofit blood organization, will be giving a presentation to students enrolled in a health and gym class this semester which will allow students to sign up then. If you are not enrolled in a health/ gym class this semester, stop by the activities office anytime after Monday, November 15th to sign up. All students ages 16 and up are eligible to donate, but students under the age of 18 will need to fill out a permission slip.

Physical education teacher Ms. Marci Jackley has been the blood drive sponsor for many years.  She says that she is hoping for a big turnout but is a bit eerie due to the fact that this is the first drive since COVID hit.

“My goal is to collect 150 units, which would be an average of around 175-200 students. Typically, we would usually get around 200 students that would sign up, pre-pandemic.”

When signing up, Jackely says it is extremely important to hydrate the days before you donate. She says that it is best to stay away from drinks with caffeine or high sugar in order to donate the healthiest blood.

“Vitalant pushes towards schools because this population of people are very healthy for the most part,” she said.

With the past blood drives being virtual, this one is extremely important. COVID has taken a huge tool on everyone, and these donations can save people’s lives.

According to the Vitalant website, “Blood donations fell more than 4,000 short of the need in May, while the need for blood has increased.”

School blood drives were relied on before COVID and without getting these donations, there is even a greater need for blood donations.

“Donating blood is a very simple, very easy, and painless process. You can’t make blood products, so the only way we can help the people who need them is by donating,” Jackley said.