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The following story is by Bear Creek Secondary School co-op student Bridgette Gilroy.
“Canada wants to be a nation that relies on its own blood supply,” says Iryna Spivak, Bear Creek’s Grade 11 representative for the Barrie high school’s blood drive.
Bear Creek Secondary School participated in its annual blood drive today (Nov. 1) for Canadian Blood Services (CBS) with the help of staff advisor Shawn Eastwood, Grade 12 representative Mayve Reynolds and Spivak.
The south-end school is among the many high schools taking part in the CBS partnership in an effort to get more students interested in and educated on blood donation.
From the age of 17, people are eligible to donate blood. Some high schools, such as Bear Creek, have compiled a team of representatives to spread the word on the importance of blood donation.
“It gets the youth involved in donating blood and learning about it at a young age,” says Reynolds, the creator of the school’s blood drive Instagram (@bcss.blooddrive).
“It’s not as scary as it seems,” Spivak adds on donating.
Food and beverages are offered before and after drawing blood, as well as time to rest and recover. She advises those who are prone to fainting or queasy with blood to avoid donating, however.
In early October, representatives from a few schools were invited to the donation centre in Barrie to learn about the process and the best ways to educate their schools.
“We were thinking of asking school sports teams if they wanted to do a team drive to get them more involved,” Spivak says. “We’ve also thought about doing certain classes. My chemistry class wanted to do one together.”
Whether it’s donating or educating those around you, Spivak believes that any small act can make a big difference.
“It’s already really difficult to get people to do something, so the more I can get something out there, especially something for such a good cause, I enjoy the idea of taking on that responsibility," she says.
Since the pandemic, CBS says blood donations have decreased drastically, causing a scarcity in Canada that has required other countries’ blood donations.
“People need to be aware that we do have a major shortage,” Eastwood says of the importance of donating blood. “People who have surgeries are in constant need of blood, people in car accidents or traumas are in need of blood, and there just isn’t enough.”
For every blood donation a person makes, three lives can be saved, adds Reynolds. She believes making a blood donation can be as casual and routine as making a dentist appointment.
“It’s a feel-good thing,” she says. “It’s not just something you’re doing for yourself, it’s a very selfless act.”
Community service hours are another perk for students.
“For one donation, you get four hours of community service,” says Reynolds. “Even just signing up and going, even if they say you’re not eligible to donate, they’ll still give you those four hours because you still tried to donate.”
Bear Creek also has stem-cell drives that take place at the school in the spring.
“If you’re between the ages of 17 and 35, they can take a cheek swab, figure out your DNA to see if you’re a match for stem-cell transplants,” says Eastwood. “If someone does need it and does need their life to be saved, they can access the registry contact that person’s match.”
To put it simply, here’s a word from student donor, Ally Walker: “If your 10 minutes of discomfort is going to save someone’s life, why would you not help them?”
Bear Creek’s next blood drive will be taking place on Jan. 17.
Visit the CBS website (blood.ca) or download the GiveBlood app to book your donation today.
