AHS students to give gift of life

The Albany Student Council will be hosting a blood drive at Albany High School next Monday, and seniors who donate blood for the second time this year will be eligible to wear a red honor cord at graduation.

The Hendrick Regional Bloodmobile will be at the high school from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. on Monday, April 29, and although the drive is geared toward students and teachers, community members are also welcome, according to principal Edward Morales.

According to recent news broadcasts, O positive blood is in especially short supply.

Donors must be at least 17 years old, or 16 with a consent form signed by a parent.

Students must sign up at the school office.

Seniors who are unable to donate can still wear the honor cord if four others donate blood in their name.

This is the second year in a row that the Albany High Student Council has sponsored blood drives.

Students at seven area high schools including Albany, Clyde, Eula, Hamlin, Haskell, Merkel, and Stamford donated a total of 284 pints of lifesaving blood at their fall blood drives and are welcoming the bloodmobile again for the spring blood drive. 

The Bloodmobile is scheduled to be back in Albany on Thursday, May 23 for the regular Kiwanis sponsored drive at the First Baptist Church, from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m.

According to the Hendrick Regional Blood Center (formerly called the Meek Blood Center), donors serve as a lifeline to cancer patients, newborn babies, surgical patients, accident or trauma victims, dialysis patients and those with chronic anemia or other blood disorders. Within 48 hours of donation, blood and blood products will have been processed, tested, and be ready for use for lifesaving transfusions to patients in 17 area hospitals.