According to Blood Center volunteers, 140 students signed up to give blood in the drive organized by MIHS Senior Service Club members. According to club member Renee Chiang, they were turning students away because there were too many.

PSBC volunteer Kerry Chesbro screens donors when they arrive. He said that for a high school blood drive, the turnout was very good. “Getting 10 percent of your student body to donate is a good number,” he said. Of the general population, he noted, just between five and 10 percent donate.

He said the students did well. Just a few had to sit a few extra minutes while they recovered from the experience. “Some just did not have enough to eat or drink beforehand and were likely dehydrated,” he said.

An added benefit from the high school drive is the diversity in blood that was collected. According to Chesbro, of the 40 students he had already screened, only about 10 identified themselves as white. That left well over half who identified themselves as being of other races or multiracial — giving the regional blood supply more versatility.