Former Mahomet-Seymour High School student and Community Blood Services representative Megan Rushing visited with freshmen students in Health class Monday to talk about the importance of blood donation in Central Illinois.
Rushing encouraged students to donate locally when they become of age because the blood stays in Central Illinois and is distributed to hospitals such as Carle, Provena, Mattoon and St. Anthony.
Although many freshmen students will have to wait until the turn 16 years of age, older students at Mahomet-Seymour High School donated blood Monday.
While 38 percent of the population in the United States is eligible to donate blood only 10 percent of the population donates blood during their lifetime. Part of Rushing’s job is to educate and inform students and community members on the need for blood donations because when asked, most people say they do not donate because they have never been told about blood donation.
Rushing told students the numbers do not match up when it comes to blood donations and blood need. Nearly 25 percent of the population will need a blood donation sometime in their life, whether they are fighting an illness, cancer or have some sort of trauma.
An opportunity to donate blood is provided at Mahomet-Seymour High School twice a year. Rushing told students people over 16 years of age and over 102 lbs. without any blood donation restrictions can donate once every 56 days. One donation is split into three parts: red blood cells, platelets and plasma. Rushing also said one donation can be used on up to three people.
The problem Community Blood Services faces is that blood has to be available when the patient needs it. A blood donation takes seven days to process. Direct donations usually cannot make it to a specific patient when they need it.
Rushing encouraged students to eat a lot of iron and drink a lot of water the day before they donate.
Some students also tested their blood type and the class compared the class average against the national average for blood types.
