The NHS blood drive held on Friday, Dec. 9, proved to be successful for the American Red Cross team.

Team Supervisor Alicia Arthur said there were 69 students scheduled to give blood, which is more students registered than past blood drives at Kearsley.

For the team, this wasn’t their first school blood drive. A representative of the team schedules blood drives at most of the schools in Genesee County. According to Arthur, they visit schools such as Kearsley, Bentley, Bendle, Atherton, and Flushing.

Senior Aimee Clark donated willingly.

“I’m always happy to give blood,” Clark said. “It’s a chance to help people in need.”

Some people have anxiety about giving blood for the first time, but it is almost all based on what other people say.

Arthur thinks positive talking and thinking can lead to less anxiety.

“If you rant and rave about how big the needle is, you’re putting negativity in your head,” Arthur said. “The key is to stay positive. If one goes down, four more go behind him.”

While some may say that the donation took a long time, it actually doesn’t take long to donate blood. The actual blood donation only takes about 10 to 12 minutes, while the time between a donor’s arrival and departure is about an hour and 15 minutes.

Even though the thought of giving blood may seem scary, the actual atmosphere around the donors isn’t.

“Everyone at the blood drive was really nice and made sure everything was going well. All of the volunteers from NHS and the Red Cross made the environment more comfortable for everyone who gave blood,” Clark said.  “More people should sign up to give blood in the future.”

Every person who gave blood could be saving up to three other people. If all of the donors’ blood taken during the drive is used, that’s 207 potential lives to be saved.

Those who donated and wish to do so again in the future can donate again every 56 days.

Senior Rian Schulz volunteered at the blood drive and helped to walk donors from tables to the refreshment station.

“It was fun to sit and know it was helping people for the better. It was slightly stressful because we were worried about keeping people from passing out, but it was worth it in the end,” Schulz said. “I’m glad everyone was able to come out and donate for the greater cause.”