MTHS will hold its first blood drive of the school year on Thursday, November 17, from 7:30 AM to 12:30 PM.

Students 17 and older and MTHS staff members are eligible to donate and can sign up by clicking here .

Donors should start hydrating the day before and eat a good breakfast the day of. Donating blood is a simple thing to do, but can make a big difference in the lives of others. The donation process takes about an hour. The donation itself is only about 8-10 minutes on average. 

There is an emergency need for blood in the Manchester area, particularly type O blood. A recent decline in blood donations makes it tough to keep blood products stocked on hospital shelves. “We need all eligible donors to come forward and give,” said blood drive co-coordinator Mrs. Trapp.

Gifted pints of blood may help up to three people. Donated red blood cells do not last forever. They have a shelf-life of up to 42 days. A healthy donor may donate every 56 days.

“Our goal is to collect 75 pints. In order to do this we need approximately 100 donors,” Trapp said.

Trapp also said that people who donate between October 15 and November 22 will receive a $10 e-gift card to a merchant of their choice. 

“Every day, blood donors help patients of all ages: accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients, and those battling cancer,” she said. “In fact, every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood.”

Additional blood drives are planned for the winter and spring of the 2022-2023 school year.

For Information, visit The Red Cross’ website or see Mrs. Trapp or Mrs. McKiernan in the gym.