Methacton’s Red Cross Club held its annual spring blood drive on Feb. 26, collecting 75 units of blood from the high school students during the school day. High school nurse Kathleen Thompson managed the event and the community blood drive from 3-7 p.m., where Methacton staff and community members donated. That time frame yielded another 43 units.
In total, 118 units of blood were collected this spring, while 106 units (73 student and 33 community units) were collected during the fall and summer blood drives.
One unit can save up to three lives and can be given to any patient in need of blood with a compatible blood type. From both the school and community drives, 23 units of red blood cells were collected, known as Power Red by the American Red Cross. The plasma (liquid) portion of the blood is returned to the donor’s body.
Approximately 85 students signed up, but a few of them were deferred or deemed insufficient for several reasons, including low hemoglobin levels, iron deficiencies, weak veins, recent out-of-country traveling, body piercings, or ineligible body weight-to-height ratios.
Snacks, $20 E-gift cards, and blankets were available to the donors after they gave. Students who were members of the club helped donors recover before allowing them to head back to their classes.
Students interested in joining the Red Cross Club can contact Nurse Thompson at her office or via her school email, [email protected]. The next drive for this school year will be in November of 2026.
