Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood for surgery, chronic illness, cancer treatments, or trauma injuries. But with a national blood shortage and a decline in donations, even the largest suppliers, like the American Red Cross, are running out.
To address this deficiency, BOHS’s Red Cross Club will host a blood drive on Oct. 9 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Brea United Methodist Church. An American Red Cross “bloodmobile” and registration booths will be set up in the church parking lot to accommodate donors.
After two previous blood drives — one in December 2023 and another in March 2024 — Red Cross Club leadership is “eager” to host another, according to co-president Chan Hwang (‘26). Hwang facilitates the BOHS blood drives as one of the blood program leaders with the support of Tram Banks, American Red Cross Blood Drive Planning Manager
“High school blood drives and youth donors play a crucial role in saving lives,” Banks said. “Nearly 20% of the blood collected by the American Red Cross comes from students at high school and college blood drives.”
Donors can select a time slot to give blood through the Brea Blood Drive portal. The entire donation process — from arrival to the site to when donors leave — takes under an hour.
American Red Cross nurses suggest that donors consume a large, iron-rich meal the day prior, and a satiating breakfast the day of, as optimal iron levels and hydration are essential for the body to replenish lost red blood cells.
All donors must be at least 17-years old (or 16 with parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds, and be in good health.
Certified nurses will conduct a health screening of vital signs for each donor before the blood donation procedure, which entails a technician cleaning an area of the donor’s arm using rubbing alcohol wipes, and the insertion of a new, sterile needle into the cleansed arm.
The benefits of the donated blood are many.
“Hospitals rely on a steady supply of blood to treat cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy,” Kaitlyn Lee (‘25), president of the BOHS chapter of the American Cancer Society, said.
Blood transfusions (procedures where a donor’s blood is given to a patient) save 4.5 million lives each year. Additionally, there is a 97% chance that someone in each person’s life will need a blood transfusion.
The chapter’s goal is to receive 30 donation units, but they have 45 total appointment slots available as well as opportunities for walk-in donations for those who are unable to sign up.
Each donor will receive a $10 Amazon gift card in their inbox and a Red Cross long-sleeved shirt. Eligible high school donors who provide a Power Red donation will also receive a $10 In-n-Out gift card.
For Sean Yoon (‘26), a two-time blood donor and the club’s treasurer, said, “I hope that my blood was helpful to someone who really needed it, and I believe that everybody should donate blood at least once.”
