Crossing Boundaries

By EMMA CEPLINSKAS and MANALE ZOUHIR

The American Red Cross has been saving lives since before the 20th Century, stretching to all corners of the world to help those in need, including the city of Malden. Malden High School’s Red Cross Club and class of 2014 hosted a blood drive that took place in the Finn Gym on Apr. 16, 2014.

A total of 46 people from MHS registered to donate, supplying 33 units of blood. Each person who donates saves three lives. Donor and volunteer senior John Dovan described that “seeing new people donating and stepping out of their comfort zone to help save someone’s life is pretty inspiring to [him].”

After the blood drive ended, “the blood [went] to Dedham to labs for testing but sometimes it goes to the Midwest for testing and is then sent to local hospitals in New England,” explained nurse Carol Malloy who helped out at the blood drive. The Red Cross Club “also [does] events outside of school with Red Cross,” mentioned Dovan, such as the blood drive that was recently outside of TD Garden.

Club advisor Christopher Giordano explained that he “was approached two years ago by a student who was an officer in the club looking for a new advisor” and decided to take on the role. To this day, he still enjoys participating and leading the group.

Giordano added that his favorite part about the club is “having an impact saving somebody’s life…that’s a pretty awesome thing to be a part of.”

The Red Cross Club mostly participates and runs blood drives but Giordano explained that “Our members also do a lot of volunteer work throughout the Malden community, primarily with Bread of Life.”

The American Red Cross is the largest single supplier of blood in the United States. Four million people donate on a yearly basis through Red Cross that helps provide 40 percent of the nation’s blood supply.

Global Effects

Of the 200 million people affected by disasters every year, more than 80% are victims of silent disasters, like floods, droughts and epidemics.
The number of disasters has increased from the 1970s to current times, but the reported loss of life has been decreasing significantly, showing that “early warnings, preparedness and planning can save lives.
About 5.6 million blood donations are collected by the Red Cross each year.
About 3.3 million volunteer donors participate in blood drives each year.
More than 8 million units of blood are distributed each year due to thedonations.
Patients at approximately 2,700 hospitals and transfusion centers around the country receive Red Cross blood.
Sickle cell disease affects more than 70,000 people in the U.S. About 1,000 babies are born with the disease each year. Sickle cell patients may need blood in order to survive.
If you would like to help out without donating blood, you can text Red Cross to 90999 to donate $10.