It was that time of the semester again at Burroughs recently: our spring blood drive was held on Wednesday, April 30.
An impressive 45 students and staff registered to donate blood via the Houchin Community Blood Bank, which travels to the various high schools of Kern County to host blood drives throughout the academic year.
The donations are used for treatment at hospitals, which the blood is sent to after it is collected.
“People [are] in the hospital for various things… this is the only way they can get their medicine,” said David Nieto, one of the Houchin staff. “There is no replacement for blood.”
Students, who are the primary donors at Burroughs and the other high schools of Kern County, normally give around a pint of blood during the donation. These donations are then tested for disease and sent to hospitals for use in treatments.
“Ever since I was a kid, I always wanted to give blood because it made me feel like I was a part of something important,” said senior Joshua Rivera. “I would like to donate blood again.”
Blood donation acts as a service to the community and surrounding areas, allowing those who need blood to receive it. Houchin rewards donors with shirts that tell others that they’ve made a donation.
The next donation period will be in the fall semester of the next academic year.
