By Guadi Rabino
Assistant Managing Editor
The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) held their annual blood drive in the Mira Costa Fisher Gym today.
Students 16 and up are able to participate in the blood drive and those eligible require parental consent prior to the drive. Students are able to select a period in the day in which they choose to attend the blood drive.
“I think the blood drive is a good opportunity for people to give back to their community,” sophomore Associated Student Body commissioner of elections Breegan Knudson said. “It’s awesome to see how many people decide to come and donate their blood. I’m extremely happy that ASB gives me the chance to be part of that.”
ASB members are required to sign up seven students to donate blood at the drive. Students are required to fill out forms that help determine a person’s eligibility. After donations, the blood goes through a rigorous set of tests in order to determine if it can be used or not.
“I personally think that the procedures that are taken before people are able to donate blood is a way to prevent anything from possibly going wrong,” junior ASB commissioner of public relations Ceca Radl said. “It’s good to take precautions when it comes to such serious things such as blood transfusions so I think it is smart that they are being so careful.”
According to Knudson, approximately 80 to 90 students are estimated to donate blood for this month’s blood drive, raising approximately one pint each totaling to about 90 pints altogether.
“The blood drive is one of the humanitarian events we do here at Costa,” ASB administrator Lisa Claypoole said. “We try to instill in people and students to give to others when you have things. A lot of the times kids who give blood for the very first time in high school will give for the rest of her life.”
Costa has been proctoring the UCLA blood drive for 11 years. Each year a total of three drives are held. One occurs in October while the other two occur in February and June. This will be Costa’s third and final drive of the year.
“I think if you meet the prerequisites to donate blood I see no reason why you shouldn’t donate,” sophomore ASB auxiliary Sophie Nelson said. “It goes to a great cause and it is something so minimal we can all do to help people in need.”
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