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Red Cross
Blood Drive set for October 15
Scholarship based on student participation benefits an HFM
student pursuing health care career
The American Red Cross Blood Drive, scheduled for
Friday, Oct. 15, from 7:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. in the HFM BOCES gymnasium, can save
lives and help earn a Red Cross High School Scholarship Award
for a HFM BOCES student.
 The Red Cross scholarship, worth $200-$700, is awarded
to a student from the health careers program who is
pursuing a career in health care and continuing
post-secondary studies. HFM BOCES qualifies for the
scholarship by hosting at least two blood drives during
the year, and reaching a 25 percent student
participation level. The number of blood drives and
participation determines the amount of the scholarship.
Donating blood is quick, easy and safe. Anyone at least
17 years of age, or 16 with a parent's permission, is
eligible to donate. After a Red Cross representative
leads a potential donor through a health history
screening, the donor is directed to a bed, where another
Red Cross technician uses a new, sterile needle to
collect a unit of whole blood. The actual donation takes
about eight minutes.
New technology allows certain donors to give double the amount
of red blood cells in a single visit. Called “Double Red,” the
automated system is designed to safely separate blood into red
blood cells and plasma as it's being donated. The plasma and
other components, along with a unit of saline, are returned to
the donor, while twice the amount of red cells is collected than
from a standard whole blood donation.
Anyone interested in donating blood should contact HFM BOCES
nurse Kim Bursese at 736-4681, ext. 4656 to make an appointment.
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