Students, staff line up to bleed for those in need

A twice-in-a-school-year opportunity to save lives, the mobile Community Blood Center blood drive allows students to perform selfless acts for those in need. Those older than 16 may take time out of their school day to snack, hydrate, and lay down in a comfy chair- and the product may save lives.

Senior Katherine Osborne recognizes the positive impact that high school students can have on the nationwide need for blood transfusions.

“I think blood donations are important because a lot of people are immunosuppressed or are in need of blood just in general; a lot of teenagers can give blood,” she said. “We’re probably at our most healthy right now.”

Student Council advisor Patrick Bertram began donating blood at a young age and later saw the help that it brought for those in need of a contribution.

“I started donating blood when I was a junior in high school, and then in my senior year, a good friend of mine was diagnosed with leukemia, and he ended up having to have several blood transfusions,” he said. “I really saw the need for it then with that personal experience.”

Bertram learned about more people who depended on transfusions as he continued to donate.

“As I have gotten older, I have had more friends and family members who have all had blood transfusions, and how important they are,” he said. “One pint of blood can save up to three lives, and I know several who have been helped by a blood donation.”

Health teacher Tony Gerharz, one pint away from donating a total of 19 gallons of blood, began his donation regimen after a recommendation from his doctors.

“I have been donating since the early 1980s; I started when I was in college, so that is 40 years,” he said. “My dad had a rare blood disorder where he had too much iron in his blood. At the time I was just a young college student, and they said the best way to avoid the disorder—it was a hereditary disease, primarily in males—was to, three to four times a year, donate blood.”

Due to Gerharz’s low iron, he was unable to donate in April. That said, he hopes in the near future he can hop over to the community blood center and get his 19th gallon complete.

“I try to emphasize that the main thing is to save lives,” Gerharz said. “I think it's three lives that you can save, and for school, the motivation for kids is to get out of class and get a free meal.”

Junior Anders Larson, however, warns that if students are going to donate, they should definitely prepare and understand the aftereffects. 

“Drink a lot of water, bring layers so you can take off clothes if you are getting a little hot, and I think they recommend eating food high in iron, just so your hemoglobin is high enough to donate blood,” he said. “But if you are doing something like a sport, you might notice slight discomfort for a week or so, but it is really not that bad; you can certainly walk away from donating blood.”

Those who choose to donate blood experience different reactions and side effects, but  Gerharz sees it as a small price to pay.

“There are some things to be aware of; you may feel a little tired, that's why they give you water, sugar, like cookies, and this year Little Debbie cupcakes because of the pandemic,” he said. “Follow the directions they give you: eat a good breakfast and a good lunch. I did not hear much of students fainting, but it does not just happen to just kids; it happens to adults too.”

Even with proper preparation, Osborne finds that some people may react differently due to their health.

“Personally, it does affect me a little bit more because I'm a little anemic, so when I do give blood, it's more of a big deal for me, but when I get home, I rest up, and it is not that bad,” she said. “I get through the school day easily. I just have to take a nap when I get home.

 Although there are plenty of benefits to students and the community available through the program, Gerharz does mention that not everybody should participate.

“If you have an issue with blood, needles, anemia, which is more often girls than guys, there are some side effects,” he said. “Especially smaller people, sometimes it's hard for them to find the vein, and that can be annoying.”

But as long as there are no serious physical or mental conflicts, Osborne finds it in the best interest of those receiving and donating to at least give it a shot.

“I would say that even if they're scared, because I've had friends scared of needles before in general, just try it out because at the end of the day it's for someone else, and you get a feeling that you're helping someone out,” she said. “You just get that satisfaction of helping people.”

In the troubling times of the pandemic, help within the medical sphere is more necessary than ever. 

“None of us know when we may be in need of a blood donation for a sudden illness or accident or something,” Bertram said. “I say giving blood is paying it forward, because some day it could be you, it could be somebody that you care about that needs it.”

By Marty Bond

Oshkosh West Index Volume 117 Issue VII

April 30th, 2021