Milford to hold blood drive next week

Donating blood can help with cancer treatment, surgeries, heart and blood vessel diseases, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, and any other emergencies that require blood transfusions.  This is why Milford High School is so involved in the blood drive – because every little bit helps.

On Tuesday, Nov. 29, Michigan Blood is coming to help with the donation process. Students may sign up to donate a pint of their blood to the Michigan Blood Association from 7:30 am – 1:30 pm.

There are many steps to donating blood. First, the donor has to register and go through a mini physical. Next, one pint of blood is taken from the donor. It is labeled in a bag and stored in a refrigerator. 

Later, the blood is scanned into a computer database, and further tested for what blood type it is and also any history of disease. The blood is stored in a 6-degree Celsius refrigerators. The blood can then be distributed to hospitals when ever it is needed.  

There are four different blood types: A, B, AB, and O. According to Michigan Blood, “more than 4.5 million patients need life- saving blood transfusions each year in the U.S. and Canada.”

The Red Cross said on its web site, “You can maintain a healthy iron level in your diet by eating iron rich foods, such as red meat, fish, poultry, beans, spinach, iron-fortified cereals and raisins.” In order to donate, make sure that you drink enough water and get a good night sleep if you are to donate.

Dan Onofrio, a junior at Milford high school, is one student who plans on donating this year. 

“Last year, I donated my blood, they made sure that I fit the criteria to be a donor. It didn’t hurt at all when they took my blood.”

Onofrio explained how they recommend that you to drink lots of water and to stay hydrated throughout the day; they also make you stay after and lay down for 10-15 minutes after you give blood and will give you food and  water to make sure that you don’t pass out.

It will take around an hour and a half for this whole process to happen between being questioned to make sure you fit the criteria and actually getting your blood taken. And will take around 20 minutes to get your blood taken.

Many people may be hesitant on whether they should donate their blood, but in the long run, they would be saving up to 3 lives. Don’t forget to donate blood on Nov. 29.

For more information visit www.redcrossblood.org or www.miblood.org