Schools donate 558 pints of blood

Walking into the Green River High School auditorium Thursday afternoon would have shown anyone the students' commitment to helping their community.

Students and residents lined up to donate blood for the annual blood drive competition between the county's two high schools. While the Wolves were barely edged out by the Tigers during the blood drive, bringing 276 pints to 282 pints from Rock Springs, the blood is a welcome donation to hospitals throughout the region. Overall, the communities donated 558 pints of blood.

"We look forward to this event," Sandy Thomas, senior donor recruiter for Vitalant said. "It has become a big success and is needed during this time of the year."

While blood is needed year-round, Thomas said the need during summer and winter months is greater because of the activities people participate in. Blood has a 42-day shelf life, which means once the blood is collected and tested, it's sent to hospitals immediately.

Thomas said the snowstorm last Monday impacted their blood drive and forced Vitalant to split their staff between Rock Springs and Green River Thursday to maximize the amount of blood the company received during the drive. While students and residents may have had to wait to donate blood, they weren't questioning their decision to do so.

"Helping people is always a good thing," GRHS junior Jacob Martinez said.

Martinez said it was his sixth time donating blood and has always been motivated to donate because it helps other people. For Ciara York, also a junior at GRHS, it was a spur of the moment decision.

"I just kind of signed up to do it," she said. "I've never done it before."

While she admits she felt nervous at the start, donating blood is something she will do again.