Health Assistance Sponsors Their Annual Fall Blood Drive
by Joy Hudspath, Health Assistant Class of 2024
Traditionally, the Health Assistant program at Lawrence County CTC hosts blood drives throughout the school year. Although the professionals from Vitalant conduct the actual blood draws, it is our health assistant students who make sure the event runs smoothly — after all, people’s lives are at stake!
“I’m able to be persuasive when I speak to classes during the recruitment periods,” shares HA senior, Madison Werner. This first step is important to get the word out. Students also work to post signs throughout the hallways, create student announcements, and share the information in public with family, friends, and their places of work.
Werner continues, “We continue to use communication skills as we answer questions. we make use of our organizational skills when we help them register for the event. All of these will help me become a better nurse in the future.”
The health assistant students then create appointments and deliver them to the donors with additional instructions. They are also available to answer any additional questions.
On the day of the drive, LCCTC staff, students, and friends line up to help those who are in need. “Although county-wide averages for blood drives are usually around 30, we typically exceed this number; even if we hit the county average, that’s 90 patients helped. Your one donation helps up to 3 people, and that one donation could make all the difference,” reports Health Assistant Instructor, Vince Pavia.
Our students check people in to make sure they can keep accurate records of attendees at that time. They also note how long each donor was there, ensure that they are getting something to drink and eat to avoid post-donation queasiness and take their vital signs after giving blood to make sure that nothing was out of the ordinary.
This was the first year we had our blood drive in our health assistant classrooms and it worked efficiently and smoothly.
The Health Assistant program at Lawrence County CTC would like to thank all those who donated, Vitalant for returning to run yet another drive, and the LCCTC administration, staff, and students for their support.
