Langley saves lives one pint at a time

Harris LaTeef

Langley Principal Mr. Matt Ragone donates blood at the Langley Fall Blood Drive.

Harris LaTeef, Online Editor
October 26, 2012
Filed under Feature, Multimedia, Photos, Top Stories

When was the last time you saved three lives in one day?

The Science Honor Society’s biannual blood drive was held today in the Auxiliary Gym. Langley students and teachers can donate blood for use in hospital emergency rooms and in surgeries. Donors must be at least 16 years old and 110 pounds.

One pint of donated blood is separated into three parts: red blood cells, which are used for trauma and surgery patients, platelets, which are used for cancer patients including patients with Leukemia and blood plasma, which is often used for the treatment of patients suffering from severe burns.

Members of the Science Honor Society, in partnership with INOVA Blood Donor Services, have been organizing blood drives at Langley for many years. The Langley blood drive is the largest high school blood drive affiliated with INOVA.

Blood donated to INOVA is used in 15 hospitals located throughout the Washington metro area. The Walter Reed Army Medical Center, INOVA Fairfax Hospital, Sibley Memorial Hospital, and The INOVA Fairfax Hospital for Children are among hospitals that receive blood from INOVA Blood Donor Services.

Last October, 286 pints of blood were donated by the Langley community, setting an all-time record for Langley.

Photos by Harris LaTeef