by Megan Rolph
Staff Reporter

Everyday, people are admitted into the hospital for a wide array of reasons. In fact, according to the American Red Cross Association, one out of every 10 people admitted into a hospital are in need of blood.
There are many organizations across the United States of America devoted to saving lives through blood donations. One such organization is Lee Memorial Health System. They are partnering with Cape Coral High School and other high schools across Lee County for the Seventh Annual High School Blood Drive Challenge.
With the help of Cape High’s very own Key Club, the Blood Drive is to be held on Tuesday October 20, 2009 and Wednesday October 21, 2009 from 7:30 am to 2:30 pm in the front entrance of the school. Anyone who is interested must sign up prior to the event in the cafeteria.
Cape Coral High School’s Key Club Coordinator Liz Kominar said, “We are hoping to make this our fourth year in a row, winning the competition. There are several high schools in our area that choose to compete with us to see which school will raise the most blood. The winning school will receive a scholarship to give to one senior, who donated blood.”
There are a few restrictions to donating blood though. If a potential donor is under sixteen years of age and/or less than one-hundred ten pounds, donations will not be taken. If they are under eighteen yet over sixteen and do not have parental consent, donations will, also, not be taken.
Kominar went on to say, “The main reasons people cannot give blood is because they are A) underweight, B) Their blood iron levels are low because they did not eat properly beforehand, C) they have recently had a cold, gotten a tattoo, or been out of the country.”
Before donating blood, it is necessary to prepare one’s body by eating food that is enriched with iron. Examples would be: meat, beans, vegetables and iron-fortified cereals.
Benefits to donating include: free cholesterol testing (non-fasting), blood pressure and pulse reading, iron level testing, and blood typing. Donors will also receive a challenge t-shirt and a Dairy Queen Food Coupon.
Donating with the Lee Memorial Health System is safe, easy and one donation can save up to four people. The blood donated stays within the area, thus strengthening the community.
Kominar said, “All the blood that is taken here in the school will go to people in our community. It will all stay in our area. The blood will go to patients in our area, so if there is an emergency in Lee County, they will be using the blood for that.”
            If interested in donating blood, sign up in the cafeteria prior to the challenge dates. Today alone, 40,000 people will need blood. Do not hesitate. Donate.