“I don’t like blood, but it’s a good way to save a life,” Christopher Bennett, Student Council co-sponsor, said. “It’s a simple way to help the community because there is alway someone in need of blood.”

The annual school blood drive will be held on Thursday, October 30 in the library. Compared to past years, there will be more opportunity for students to donate because more beds are available, meaning not as many students will be turned down.

The process of donating only takes 30-40 minutes, and to be eligible for donation you have to be 17 and older or 16 with a parent permission form, which can be found in the main office. Also, you must weigh at least 105 pounds, can not have received any tattoos in the last 10 days, and have not traveled to any unsafe areas in the past year.

“Eat a good breakfast ,not just a muffin and coffee, but eat something substantial,” Adrienne Casanova, school nurse, said. “Stay relaxed during the process and when [you] are finished, make sure to drink lots of liquids because they just took a whole pint of blood from your body.”

There is no chance to get a illness like HIV from blood donation according to Casanova. Each needle, tube, and gauze is sterile, meaning that it is free from living germs or microorganisms.

“Some students felt light headed after the donation, but that was just because they did not eat a good breakfast or they were dehydrated.” Casanova said. “A little bruising in the area may occur but nothing too painful.”

Every blood type is accepted at the donation. All blood is made of the same basic elements, but there are eight different common types according to www.redcrossblood.org.