By Nicole Perozzo, Pulse staff writer
Eighty-three. That’s how many units of blood were fit for use. Eighty-three out of the original 99 that registered to donate.
A few students who signed up ultimately couldn’t donate because they were below their individual weight requirement. Also, they were not allowed to donate if they had recently taken antibiotics or received a piercing or tattoo from a facility that wasn’t Wisconsin certified.
Regardless, the blood drive which took place on Feb. 11 was joyful, according Julie Abt, event organizer and Indian Trail English teacher. In other years, the Indian Trail blood drive was organized by Julie Kerkman, another Indian Trail Academy English teacher and the National Honor Society. This year, Abt took on the leadership role with NHS.
It took roughly 45 minutes to one hour for an individual to give blood. Beforehand, it was recommended that students get a good night’s sleep, eat a good meal PRIOR to donating, and drink plenty of fluids. After the blood gets tested it is donated to the Blood Center of Wisconsin, but comes back to the Kenosha area for people who are in need of it.