Prairie High School’s HOSA (Health Occupational Students of America) Club, in collaboration with the American Red Cross, put on the first blood drive of the year on September 23rd in the north gymnasium. Students donating blood were required to be 16 years of age.

HOSA planned about two months in advance for the blood drive. A lot of time, hard work, and organization went into planning to ensure the event would run smoothly. 

Chaedon Robinson, a member of HOSA and planner for the blood drive, says “It takes about an hour for us to set up the actual stations, and for the Red Cross to get their stuff set up.” Setting up for the event by an organized system, jobs and tasks were given to each member of the club. “Being in charge of the cantina, which involves making sure people eat before and after they give blood and making sure people are ok. We have the ushers who monitor the people as they give blood on the tables.” Robinson explained. 

Another vital job given during the drive is working the intake table, a check-in system for those willing to donate blood. This job is, in most cases, given to the club’s leaders. Ms. Levine, a teacher at Prairie and advisor of HOSA, expressed just how big a role leadership played in the running and success of the drive, “I really rely on my leadership in my club because they are who put all this together, club leadership usually takes the intake table.” Levine further explained that students typically “have to be in the club for the year before the first drive to help run it.” 

  The blood drive is impactful for the surrounding community as donating just one bag of blood can save up to three lives. Donating blood helps save lives with each donation as 4.5 million Americans need a blood transfusion each year. With this, the need for blood is constant. “Just donating is really important and a safe way to give back to your community and make an impact, we are at a critical shortage,” says Levine.

Meeting their aspirations for a successful drive, Levine says “the goal was for 54 units, we collected 47.” There were also a total of 60 check-ins for the drive.

Melody Brizuela, a member of HOSA, viewed these numbers as a great success. “We had a really good turnout. Teamwork and collaboration were important contributing factors that really made things go so well, and it was really cool to see all the teamwork between HOSA and the Red Cross. That made the blood drive run smoothly.” said Brizuela.

The blood drive, overall, was deemed successful as HOSA and the American Red Cross succeeded in their effort to collect blood with the intent to save lives.