Senior Sam Shank prepares to donate blood as an American Red Cross technician monitors his blood pressure Tuesday morning. Blood was flowing freely from several arms Tuesday in the health technology classroom at Mansfield Senior High School.
Thirty-six students and teachers were registered to give blood during a donation drive by the American Red Cross. That filled the 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. schedule but several others were on a waiting list.
“I am really pleased,” said health technology instructor Jennifer Johnson. “This is the first time I’ve done this and I was nervous about the turnout. It’s great to see so many here.”
Johnson said her class – 13 seniors and 18 juniors – worked hard to make the event a success. They put up posters to advertise the blood draw and recruited donors.
“The kids worked together as a team,” Johnson said. “This is important because blood has a limited shelf life and hospitals across the country have a constant need.”
Blood collected on Tuesday will be processed at the Red Cross laboratory on Broad Street in Columbus.
According to its web site the American Red Cross collects approximately 5.6 million blood donations each year from about 3.3 million donors. Collections are distributed to more than 2,700 hospitals and transfusion centers across the nation.
Next week Johnson’s seniors will take the test to become certified State Tested Nursing Assistants (STNAs). They completed their clinical experience at Oak Grove Manor Rehabilitation and Residential Center.