The Brave News

by Joshua Lucero and RJ Johnson IV

St. John Bosco High School has connected with Cedars-Sinai Hospital to put on the school’s annual blood drive from this year. Students, faculty, staff and other people of the community were given an opportunity to donate blood on March 26th.

Students who were 16 or older were given a chance to help save lives with their donations, with help from a signing from their parents. Students who are 17 years or older were welcomed to donate.

Bosco students had to answer a number of questions, making sure they were cleared to help save lives. Blood donations serves for a number of purposes, asit helps with open heart surgeries, liver, and kidney transplants. Trauma victims that have been in car accidents, shootings, fatal injuries and other life-threatening situations are helped.

The blood donations serve more than just helping adults with these surgeries and life-threatening accidents, but also with helping babies through various conditions.

Mr. Weinandy, a teacher at St. John Bosco, was one of the main instructors who orchestrated the blood drive. The blood drive itself took almost two weeks to advertise to the student body, teachers, and to the public.

Mr. Weinandy was happy to see so many Bosco Braves helping others. He hopes for next year to see an even stronger support, not only from Bosco students but from those who represent Bosco as a whole.

Through Cedars-Sinai, the Bosco community was able to donate blood to all types of patients. Each donor gave a pint of blood. Among the students, there were an estimated 58 Bosco Braves who aided to help save a life.

From these 58 donors, there were 55 pints of blood donated, which is 6.875 gallons. In the fall – when Cedars-Sinai partnered with Bosco in the beginning of the year – the turnout had an estimated 60 donors. All together from the fall and from March, there were 118 donors and 113 pints collected, which is 14.125 gallons.

Faculty and staff were able to donate as well. Mr. Salmingo was among the many of Bosco’s staff who donated. He, like many others, did this to help give back to those in need.

After donating to those who gave their blood, the donors were given food and drinks to help aid with the loss of their blood. In the end, many helped out those in need.