On Saturday, May 14th, from 9 AM to 2 PM, Harriton High School hosted its annual Spring Red Cross Blood Drive in the Cafeteria.

Harriton Service League (HSL) volunteers arrived at 8 AM to set up the tables, water, and snacks for the people donating blood, as well as hang posters around the school. Some HSL volunteers helped at the registration desk, where donors checked-in at the time of their appointment. Other HSL volunteers sat with donors while they ate their post-donation snack.  It is important that donors are hydrated before donating, as well as after, in order to help replenish their blood supply, as water makes up the majority of blood.

The event was a huge success. Parents, students, and teachers volunteered their time to donate blood; the Red Cross collected a total of 33 units of blood from the blood drive, which will help save up to 99 lives. Mr. Fritz, the Harriton Service League club sponsor, who plays an integral role in the planning of the blood drive, explained, “It’s important to know that you can help out in this way. Harriton has always had a strong showing of support at blood drives. I hope that we continue this and figure out a way to bring the drive back into the school day.”

“1 pint of blood can save up to 3 lives, so be sure to check the weight requirements on the Red Cross website, get a parent to sign a permission slip for you if you are between the ages of 16-18, and donate blood the next time Harriton has a blood drive to save those in need!” said Maddie Feldman, an HSL officer. If you are interested in donating blood on the day of the next Harriton Blood Drive in Fall 2015, or are interested in finding another local blood drive to donate to this spring or summer, visit http://www.redcrossblood.org/.