By Alan Sorensen
There was plenty of bleeding done at Havre High School yesterday, but no serious fainting spells, no cries of terror, and no screaming students running from the building.
As matter of fact, the whole bloody affair went very well, according to Ali Evans, president of HHS Key Club.
The blood letting was a Red Cross blood drive cohosted by the Key Club and HELPers in the band room from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. yesterday. This was the Key Club's second attempt at getting high school students, faculty and staff to give the "gift of life." Last year's drive attracted about 30 donors.
"It was good," Evans said in a telephone interview this morning. "I would say there were about 45 donors from the high school."
Though this year's drive was open to members of the community, no one outside of the school came forward to give.
Evans, who is still too young to donate blood, was on hand for most of the day as others came forward to give.
"It was in one of our classrooms, so the kids could see firsthand what was going on, because it was in the band room," she said. "Kids going in and out of class all day got to see what they do."
The blood drawing had been scheduled for the third dressing room off the gym, but was moved to the band room for sanitation reasons, she said.
Evans estimated that between 25 and 30 students were first-time donors. Students who are 17 to 18 can give blood only with their parents' permission. Anyone 18 or older needs no permission.
Evans didn't hesitate when asked if the clubs would sponsor more blood drawings in the future.
"Definitely, because the kids are really interested, ... really wanting to do it."
