Blood and Community Service
Anatomy & Physiology Classes Host Blood Drive
“Seeing the blood in the bags is gross.”
This was the opinion of junior Brooke M.; one of the many Anatomy and Physiology students helping out with the blood drive for Coffee Memorial Blood Center held Wednesday at the school library. High school teacher Tammi Lewis organizes a blood drive twice a year at the school.
The drives are enrichment for her Anatomy classes each semester. The students learn about the heart and the parts of blood and how the body uses them. Being part of the blood drive helps students understand the subject and makes the importance of blood more relevant.
The Anatomy and Physiology students took one-hour shifts throughout the day to help with the blood drive. They were assigned to help donors with signing in and with snacks and drinks after donating. They also helped Coffee Memorial unload and load equipment before and after the drive.
“We were on standby. It was an interesting experience to watch the process. And it was a definite process,” explained junior Caleb C.
As donors entered the library, they signed in and then proceeded to an assessment station. There they were questioned about illnesses and medications, had their vitals checked, and signed forms. They also received a free t-shirt from Coffee Memorial.
Suzanne Talley, the director of Marketing and Public Relations for the Coffee Memorial Blood Center, explained the process for blood donations. Vitals are checked to make sure the donor is not endangered by giving blood. Also, some medications can compromise the health of recipients as well as compromise the health of the donor if blood is drawn. For example, a person on blood thinners cannot give blood.
After assessment, the donor moves to a chair where blood or plasma is drawn. The donor’s physical size determines how much blood can be drawn at one time. To help replenish the lost blood, donors must consume a snack and drink before they are allowed to leave.
The whole process takes about 45 minutes.
After a blood drive is over, the blood is shipped to a testing center where the blood is tested for infectious diseases and blood types. Then it comes back to Coffee Memorial for processing and distribution. Useable blood can be split into its different components, such as red blood cells and plasma according to Suzanne Talley.
Blood donations have a great impact on the people in our area.
“Coffee Memorial is the exclusive provider of blood product for the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles,” commented Talley.
A total of 29 people donated blood on Wednesday and the center was able to use 22 units. Most donors were high school students, but school faculty and one community member also donated. While most people were able to give successfully, there was a handful that experienced nausea and passed out while giving blood. One blacked out after the donation was over. Tammi Lewis knows to expect this during a blood drive but wished that everyone could have a positive experience.
But enrichment for her class is not the major motivating factor for Mrs. Lewis.
“I’ve always done the blood drive to help save lives and I want the kids to experience that, also. Sometimes students tell me, ‘I received a call from Coffee Memorial last night and they told me they used my blood to save someone’s life.’ I think that is the neatest thing for them,” she remarked.
The sight of blood does not bother everyone though. According to senior Joseph J., he gives blood whenever he can.
“I believe it’s a good cause. It makes me feel good.”