Red Cross will hold a blood drive over the summer to make up for the shortage of blood during the summer months when teachers and students are out on vacation. Sophomore Sven Wollschlaeger, a member of Student Council, will be in charge of the drive held July 21 in the commons from 10 a.m. – 4p.m.

Red Cross has a goal of getting 35 bags of blood with this blood drive. Anyone can donate but just to be safe and sign up in advance, contact Wollschlaeger at [email protected]. At the drive, a double red machine will be there, so anyone with A-, B-, O-, O+ will be able to give a double red donation. The double-red device will give Red Cross more donations with two products toward their overreaching goal. Donating blood can help save anyone’s life.

If you give blood make sure you’re eating and drinking healthy. Also try and keep track of iron and sugar levels. Red Cross officials said they appreciate the high school for doing this especially since it’s over the summer time.

According to the Red Cross website, those giving blood should maintain iron level and eat red meats to have a successful donation. Also, get a good night’s sleep and drink 16oz of water. Lastly don’t eat fatty foods before you come and bring driver license or two other forms of ID. After donating, drink 8 o.z. of water and no alcohol for 24 hours. Remove bandage after an hour and if you experience weird things then call an emergency number (redcrossblood.org).