By the time one finishes reading this first sentence, three more people in the United States will need blood. Although three lives may not seem like many, we must put some serious thought into the complexity of just one life, carrying with it a family, talents, and experiences. Also consider babies’ lives, which have barely even begun. Now think about your own life, where you’re sitting right now, alive and healthy. For those with sickle cell anemia, leukemia, who have been in accidents resulting in great blood loss, or have very specific medical conditions, life itself becomes uncertain. We take life for granted and fail to realize our ability to make great impacts on the lives of others with such small contributions. At Patchogue-Medford High School, the students, faculty, and staff are afforded four unique opportunities throughout the school year to make such impacts via the DECA Blood Drives.

Blood drives are a safe and effective means to changing lives in our own community. According to Ms. Isabelle Alexander from the New York Blood Center, “one in every three people will need blood.” Just to put things into perspective, that’s one in every three of your best friends, or teachers, or coworkers. Just one single donation can save the lives of three adults or five children! The NYBC also assures that the blood donated remains in the community, so your donation really does make a difference for Patchogue-Medford. According to Ms. Alexander, “each blood drive receives about 60 pints of blood, saving about 180 people. A blood donation is a truly selfless and simple way to give to the community.”

Patchogue-Medford High School’s DECA Club has been collaborating with the NYBC since at least 2000, which is as far as electronic data has been kept. PMHS started out doing just one blood drive a year, then two, then three, and since 2010 has been holding four every school year. The continued generosity and dedication of PMHS has placed our high school in the top ten high schools for blood donations in all of Suffolk and Nassau counties. In just the 2015-2016 school year, our high school helped save up to 648 patients at local hospitals. Despite these feats and accomplishments, blood donation totals are not where they should be – or need to be for that matter. So why aren’t people donating?

A most frequent cause of low blood donor totals is fear. Fear of needles especially accounts for many unreceived pints of blood. Going back into perspective again, consider your fear of needles. Maybe you’ve had a bad experience with a childhood flu shot or perhaps you have a low pain tolerance and you’re afraid … understandable. Now imagine an eighteen-year-old student diagnosed with leukemia laying in a hospital bed, in need of a blood transfusion to make it to see graduation. Now who’s afraid? Our fears are negligible in comparison to the fears of those in need. So the next time a DECA member asks for your generous donation, please consider the impact which your selflessness will have on your own community. DECA needs 80 donors this upcoming blood drive … are you one of the eligible 80? You better be! Your community is depending on you.

WHO? Eligibility is determined by a student’s height-to-weight ratio, measured by NYBC volunteers on site. The NYBC encourages donors to eat iron-sufficient foods the days leading up to their donations. Green vegetables, red meat, and raisins can assist in increasing iron levels. Hydration is also key before, during, and after a donation.

WHERE? DECA Blood Drives are comfortable and conveniently hosted right in the high school during the school day. In Room 216, you can find Mrs. Mars, the DECA Club, and NYBC volunteers preparing and coordinating the blood drives. What you will also find is a table of high-tech privacy sensitive questionnaire tablets for prospective donors, complement of the NYBC. The blood drives are also packed with a vast array of food and beverages for pre and post donation.

WHEN? DECA will be hosting its next blood drive Friday, March 24th in Room 216. Information regarding this drive can be obtained from fellow DECA members, DECA President Brian Roberts, or DECA advisor Mrs. Mars in Room 222.

Gallery • 3 Photos

DECA volunteers work the registration table at Blood Drive