PBHS students save lives at the blood drive

Pine Bush High School hosted its first blood drive in more than two years – and it was a great success!

Six cots are set up in a semi-circle with high school students on them donating blood. There is an adult dressed in dark scrubs checking on one of the donors.

PBHS nurse Marybeth Reinfried said 36 units of blood were collected.

“The students were wonderful and filled with positive energy to donate blood to those in need,” said Mrs. Reinfried.

Many of the students who donated were first-time donors, like Alyssa Biondi and Andrew Cuevas.

A young woman with blond hair reclines on a cot with her left arm extended and a tube coming out as she donates blood. She is holding a red ball. — Alyssa Biondi, a senior, donates blood for the very first time.

Alyssa said she donated for several reasons – she has O negative blood which is the universal donor, able to be used in people of any blood type. Also, her family members donate all the time. She said the little song that was sung over the announcements leading up to the drive was a catchy reminder too.

“I plan to do it regularly,” Alyssa said.

A young man with dark curly hair, beard and mustache, wearing a brown shirt and sunglasses, smiles while reclining on a cot and eating a snack. — Andrew Cuevas enjoys a snack after donating his first pint of blood.

Andrew, a junior, said he was a little nervous but will definitely do it again. A guest speaker in class talked about donating blood and the impact just one pint of blood can have. That was enough to get Andrew on the cot.

“And the snacks,” he said.

Other students from the high school volunteered to check donors in and hand out snacks, including Kaeli Murtagh and Mackenzie Streever, seniors who are members of the Youth Empowerment and Sustainability Skills Club. They said they love the volunteer activities of their YESS club, including this one where they got to hand out snacks and water to the donors.

Two young women, both with long dark hair and smiling, sit behind a table that has rows of small bags of snacks on them. On the left are bottles of water all lined up. — YESS club members Isabella Saladino, left, and Kaeli Murtagh were busy handing out snacks and water to the blood donors.

The blood drive was sponsored by the First Aid Club with volunteers from National Honor Society, Interact Club and the YESS Club.

Four young women, all with long hair sit at a table outside of a gymnasium. There are papers and books on the table. Some have Red Cross shirts on. — Members of the First Aid Club checked potential donors in at the door of the blood drive.

Great job PBHS!

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