CHS students to lead January blood drive

Carla Jenewein has been coordinating Chinook's Red Cross blood drive every other month for a long time. For the upcoming January 5 blood drive, Jenewein is temporarily taking a mentor's role to help Elizabeth Hodgson, a Chinook High School senior and student body president, who will be leading the drive.

Hodgson will be assisted by members of the National Honor Society and the Student Council. The student-led drive is a part of the Red Cross' Leaders Save Lives program that seeks to get students more involved in volunteer work and, specifically, to organize a winter blood drive.

Several changes will be made for the January drive. Hodgson explained, "We decided to hold the drive in the high school auditorium. That should make it easier for students to donate blood. My whole goal is to get more students involved as donors and volunteers that will help with the drive." Nationally, the Red Cross says about 20% of all blood donors are high school or college students.

One challenge with students is their being out of school during the winter holidays. Hodgson is participating in the Leader's program that offers a chance at earning scholarship money by organizing a winter blood drive and other volunteer work with the Red Cross.

There are no guarantees for a scholarship but Hodgson would be eligible through a drawing if the CHS drive goal is met, for January that number is 45 pints.

Jenewein said she believes the goal is reachable. About 65 potential donors would be needed. She explained, "For a variety of reasons some would-be donors are 'deferred' because of a current health problem, a lack of a parental permission form (for students 16 or 17 years of age) or lack of proper identification."

Jenewein said, "We've always had excellent support from Chinook High."

The CHS National Honor Society organizes the canteen for one blood drive each year. The canteen provides snacks and drinks for donors after they give blood. For the January drive the Honor Society students will organize the canteen and gather door prizes that are given randomly to donors. Members of the CHS Student Council will do the physical set up for the drive.

Hodgson said she is expecting a good turnout of student blood donors and volunteers to help with the logistics of the drive. Many Red Cross student volunteers, including CHS students, participate in the Red Cord program. That program recognizes graduating student volunteers with a red cord they wear during their graduation ceremony.

Donors over 18 years of age need some form of identification to donate, a driver's license is acceptable. In addition to some form of ID, students 16-17 years of age need a signed parental consent form to be able to donate. Hodgson said forms will be available in the high school office, or can be downloaded from the Red Cross website.

Jenewein said, "We prefer that donors make an appointment, but walk-ins are welcome as well." Appointments can be made by calling 1-800-695-7258 or going online to http://www.redcrossblood.org and following the prompts to locate the drive in Chinook and select an appointment time. Jenewein told Hodgson there were already a good number of reserved appointments for the January drive at the high school.

The Red Cross recommends that donors drink plenty of water so they are well hydrated before giving blood. Be sure to have a healthy meal before donating and avoid fatty foods-those foods affect the testing procedures Red Cross does later on the blood samples. Wear clothing with sleeves that can be raised above the elbow. And don't forget, bring some form of identification.

For additional questions, contact Carla Jenwein at 357-2491 after 2 p.m., or call and leave a message. The January drive will run from 12:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The "Journal" encourages donors, both new and first timers, to support the blood drive. January is National Blood Donor Month, be a part of this vital lifesaving community effort.