On Nov. 15, the sophomore class officers at Big Spring High School are hosting a blood drive through the Central Pennsylvania Blood Bank to benefit people who are in need of blood transfusions.

A blood drive is an event where people can give their blood to help people in need after incidents such as a car accident.

According to The American Red Cross, there is someone who needs blood every two seconds, and a single car accident victim can require as many as 100 pints of blood.

Sophomore Class President, Colin Boyd, said, “We do a blood drive because if someone gets hurt, or if someone really needs some blood, we can just give them some of our good, healthy blood as Big Spring High School students to help that person out. They really need it and it doesn’t take that much time.”

Boyd said that there are many people who can benefit from blood donations, including but not limited to, all of the people in the hospital that need transfusions. Boyd also said that donating blood can even benefit the donor and stated, “You get that mental image, or reminder, that you gave blood that could possibly save someone’s life.”

The Brookhaven National Laboratory supports this statement. According to the laboratory, 4.5 million Americans would die every year without these life saving transfusions.

The American Red Cross also stated on their website that nearly 21 million blood components are transfused in the United States alone every year.

Anyone can donate blood if they are at least 110 pounds, 16 or older, and have a limited number of tattoos on your body. A form of ID is also required to donate.

Sydni Lehman, a past donor, has already signed up to participate in the blood drive again this year. Lehman said, “I participate in the blood drive because I want to help out in every way I can, even if it’s the smallest donation.”

Boyd said that the sophomore class officers decided to do the blood drive because it has often been successful in the past, people always like giving blood, and that it’s just a good thing to do.

The blood drive will take place in the Large Group Room.

Boyd encouraged everyone who is willing and able to participate in the Blood Drive to do so and explained how the process will work. He said, “You schedule a time when you’re going to give blood with Ms. Daugherty. She will then give you a slip to remind you. You’ll come down to the LGR and they have a blood van in which you will go on to give the blood, then rest for 15 minutes.”

Another past donor, Quincey Myers, has also taken the initiative to donate again this year. Myers said,  “I participate in the blood drive because I’m a universal donor, and by donating I know that I am making a difference in the community. ”

Boyd shared the perks of participating in the blood drive and said, “You’ll get a cookie, you get out of class, and you get a free T-shirt! It’s just a great thing to do.”