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Approximately six out of ten people will need to be infused with blood or blood components throughout their lives. However, only five percent of the general population gives blood on a regular basis. Every donation can help to save up to three lives. United Blood Services not only takes blood to be utilized in local hospitals, but also exports blood to war zones and other places in need of the life source. For example, when Hurricane Katrina struck, United Blood Services sent blood to assist the victims.
    In order to encourage students to donate, an iPod was offered to one lucky student who donated. Senior Ali Crane received the iPod.
    Three are four different components of blood that one can donate. These include Red Blood Cells, Platelets, Plasma, and White Blood Cells.
    Red Blood Cells are utilized to treat patients suffering from anemia (decrease in the number of red blood cells), and also to restore the blood levels of those who have experienced accidents or surgery.
   Platelets assist in the clotting process, and therefore help control bleeding. Platelets are often utilized to help treat leukemia and cancer patients who are enduring chemotherapy and bone marrow transplants.
    Plasma is the liquid component of blood. It can be used to assist hemophilia patients, as well as to treat burn patients and people who have lost critical amounts of blood. Hemophilia is a disease which can be inherited genetically, and patients with hemophilia generally suffer from uncontrolled bleeding because the blood does not have the ability to clot.
   White blood cells come in several varieties: granulocytes, macrophages, and lymphocytes. Granulocytes and macrophages are utilized to surround and destroy bacteria and viruses, thereby protecting against infection. Lymphocytes assist in immune defense.
   There are two ways to give blood. One can either do a whole blood donation, or an automated blood collection. Whole blood donations entail blood being drawn from a vein in the arm and being stored in a bag, which is designed to store blood. The blood is then generally separated into its components. Automated blood collection involves drawing blood from a vein in the arm also, but it will then be passed through an instrument, which utilizes dialysis in order to separate blood into its components. After the targeted components are separated, the remainder of the blood will be returned to the donor. The body then naturally replaces the components that are donated.
    Giving blood is a simple thing, which almost everyone can do, in order to give back to those in need in our community and around the world. Donor Erika Mason says, “If you can stand a pinch, then you can give blood to the ones who need it.” If you are interested in donating, please call United Blood Services toll free at (800) 696- 4484. Give blood. Save lives.

By Ebonie Hill

Word on the Street highlights students' thoughts. Students were asked, "What prank would be the most fun to pull this April Fools Day?" Here is what a few said:

Jared West, 11^th grade– “Put peanut butter on people’s windshield wipers.”

Nic Tedford, 9^th grade – “Get everyone in Mrs. Rotta’s class to chew watermelon gum.”

Natalie Feinblum, 10^th grade – “Replace cake batter with horse manure, decorate it like a cake, give it to the birthday person.”

Sjon Hornback, 9^th grade – “Put super glue in someone’s shampoo bottle.”

Belinda Lieba, 9^th grade – “Pass out Oreo cookies, but replace the white cream filling with toothpaste.”

Kaley Bloom, 12^th grade– “Put saran wrap on the toilet in the boy’s bathroom.”