Students and teachers donated blood today in the main gym during the Langley Science Honor Society’s Spring Blood Drive to help blood banks provide blood products to local hospitals.
A standard blood donation procedure extracts one pint of blood, which is then 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.
Students are also given the option to be a double red blood cell donor, which allows you to donate twice as much blood and only takes about fifteen minutes longer than donating normally.
Seniors and Science Honor Society members Zack Dailey and Brendan Cafferky donated through the double red blood cell process today.
“It makes me twice the man,” said Dailey.
Cafferky commented, “I’m two times better than you,” about the process, which saves twice as many lives.
The requirements for the double red blood cell donation also differ from the general donation process, with females required to be at least 5’5 and 150 lbs., and males at least 5’3 and 130 lbs., both genders needing an iron count of at least 13.3.
The actual process is also a little different from the normal donation as well.
According to an INOVA staff member, “Once we draw your blood, it gets filtered through the centrifuge which separates your red blood cells from your plasma and platelets. We keep your red blood cells and send back the plasma and platelets, along with some saline, into your same arm.”
After the donation, you leave with the same blood volume as you came in with, and the machine keeps you hydrated throughout the process.
Although you get to donate twice as many red blood cells, you also have to wait a little longer – about 4 months – in order to donate again.
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.
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Photos by Harris LaTeef