La Quinta High School hosted a blood drive on Friday, Sept. 22 in the Medical Health Academy building. All blood donated in this drive will be given to victims of Hurricane Harvey and other recent catastrophes.

Life Stream, a non-profit organization, with the help of MHA, collected consent forms and ensured that everyone who participated was well enough to leave. Each donation process took anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour.

“Recently there’s been a lot of hurricanes […] in the world and people need blood,” said Rosalinda Escobar (12), an MHA student said. “Any blood is good blood.”

The process to get one’s blood drawn starts with signing a consent form in order to make an appointment. Participants then get their vitals check by an MHA student. Lastly, the participant is given juice or water and a cookie, so that they are stable enough to leave.

The blood drive is specifically helpful to students in MHA, as it gives them insight on careers involving drawing and giving blood. It also teaches students what to do if someone were to faint during the process of getting their blood taken.

“If [students] donate four times before graduation, [they] get a red cord for graduation when [they] walk. If [students] donate eight times before graduation, [they] get a red and white cord. There are many benefits to donating blood, and it all goes to a good cause,” Escobar added.