On October 19th, Linganore High School staff and students donated blood to the bi-annual Red Cross blood drive in the auxiliary gym. A person donating blood must meet certain health parameters.

The blood drive this year has come at a vital time, with much blood needed to help people in need who are recovering from  recent national disasters. From hurricane victims to those wounded in the Vegas shooting, many hospitals need as much blood as they can get.

The blood drive has been going on at Linganore for over 20 years, with many students arriving each year to donate. Around 30 to 40 students usually come to donate in autumn, and up to 60 come to donate in the spring. Each student donated what the Red Cross calls a “unit,” which is exactly 525 ml of blood, almost a pint.

“It was an experience,” said Rachel Freeman, Class of 2018. After donating, student rest in the canteen area.  The best part, according to Freeman, was the juice and cookies.  Some students do have adverse reactions the first time, but statistics show that many first-time blood donors in high school become life-long blood donors.  About 20% of all donations come from high school and college aged students.