Blood Drive held at Bronaugh R-7 Thursday

Jeani Longstreth (right) donates blood at Bronaugh R-7 Thursday afternoon. The drive was sponsored by the American Red Cross.

Photo by Lisa Hinkle | Daily Mail

Bronaugh R-7 School District hosted a blood drive sponsored by the American Red Cross Thursday afternoon, Feb. 23. Staff on site stated that their goal was to collect 12 pints in the drive. It was noted that the drive was not going to be able to collect any "Power Red" donations due to a shortage of the machines that collect that type. Power Red donations are similar to a whole blood donation, except a special machine is used to allow individuals to safely donate two units of red blood cells during one donation while returning their plasma and platelets to them.

Nurse Grayson Pursell stated that the American Red Cross is "really looking forward" to the big four day drive that they will be holding next week at the University of Arkansas, in Fayetteville, Ark. He said that they are expecting to collect 300 pints each day and will have 40 staff members on site each day.

In regards to Thursday's drive, Pursell added that they "appreciate every pint that is donated."

Blood donor Jeani Longstreth said that she has been donating blood since she was 18-years-old and noted how it doesn’t cost anything to donate and "pay it forward." Longstreth has the most common needed blood type in the country, which is O+.

Longstreth encouraged donating blood by stating, “Don’t be afraid to donate. It doesn’t hurt. If it does, it’ll just sting for a second, that’s all.”