Arrowhead High School Hosts Winter Blood Drive

Arrowhead High School’s Student Senate will be hosting a winter blood drive led by the BloodCenter of Wisconsin on Friday, December 11 from 8 AM to 1 PM in the West Gym at North Campus.

North Campus students can sign up for the blood drive during both lunches in the cafeteria from Wednesday, December 2 through Thursday, December 10. South Campus students can participate in the blood drive as long as they are 16 years of age and have signed permission from their parents to participate. Students at South Campus can sign up during both lunches from Monday, December 7 through Thursday, December 10 in the cafeteria. Students are requested to bring their driver’s license to their appointment.

Students can sign up online at https://donor.bcw.edu/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/134453. Walk in appointments are accepted the day of the blood drive, however it is encouraged that an appointment be made before December 11.

Tamara Varsos, a teacher in the social studies department as well as one of the adult leaders of Student Senate at Arrowhead, will be the primary blood drive coordinator.

Varsos says, “Donating blood is an incredible way to give back and help save lives. Blood centers are always in need of blood and winter tends to be a slow time in blood donations, but a time of high need for hospitals. Arrowhead High School’s blood drive is an important event to help the BloodCenter of Wisconsin. Student Senate highly encourages students to give blood and be heroes. “

According to BloodCenter of Wisconsin’s website, every three seconds someone needs blood. BloodCenter of Wisconsin requires 800 volunteers daily in order to meet the needs of over 50 community hospitals.

BloodCenter of Wisconsin also offers a recognition program for donors, where points can be collected and redeemed for rewards that “show your donor pride.” These rewards include apparel, keychains, coolers, and other items.

Arrowhead Junior Ashlyn Seckinger says she participated in last year’s blood drive at Arrowhead High School.

Seckinger says, “You should eat before and after [you donate] and if you don’t like needles and blood then this is probably not a thing for you.”

Seckinger says, “I felt that it was important because if I have something that I can give to others that will help them out and to live then I should give them it.”

Seckinger says, “For students who are deciding whether or not to do the blood drive, I recommend participating if you can. I was scared it might be painful before I started, but after the process began I just relaxed and then got plenty of food after!”