An on-campus blood drive has been scheduled for Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. In order to donate, students must be 16 or older and weigh at least 102 pounds.

“Last year, I was way scared to get my blood taken,” junior Shaye Wilson said. “I have a crazy fear of needles, but it didn’t hurt, and the nurses made me feel like a giant family. The entire time everyone was telling me what a good thing I was doing be donating blood.”

Assistant Principal of Facilities Jim Melia said that students will also be asked a series of questions to determine eligibility.

“The techs should ask a number of different things, involving HIV to hepatitis to if they have traveled to a foreign country recently ,” Melia said.  Questions are asked in order to ensure the safety of the blood and the donor.

For a whole blood donation, approximately one pint is collected. The donation should take about 5 to 10 minutes. Any students under 18, will need signed permission slips in order to donate. Students who donate will receive a Florida Blood Centers T-shirt, pizza, soda and snacks.

“It’s important to keep our blood reserve up because there are so many people who need blood,” Melia said. “The life you save might be your own.”