Horizon Honors is hosting a blood drive on Wednesday, May 16, and needs students to find the courage to become a donor. The drive will be open from 8 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. for students ages 16 and up. If you are, however, under the age of 18, you will need a permission slip to participate, signed by your parents or parental guardian. There are also some weight and height requirements necessary to make sure you can donate safely. Although all this information is promoted in the school, it is important to recruit as many donors as possible. Whether you’re scared of blood or needles or simply get sick thinking of blood, it is necessary to overcome these fears and donate for the sake of others. Not only does donating blood benefit the person receiving the new blood, but it can also benefit the donor.  

To start off, donating blood can decrease the chance of heart attacks, according to First Post. The more iron in someone’s body, the more risk is at hand of a heart attack. By losing a small amount of blood, the amount of iron stays at a steady, safe level for the body. Another benefit, according to Health, is that you will get a free check-up on your body’s blood. The blood you donate will undergo tests to insure that it is in good health, and if your blood proves to be in an unhealthy state, you will be notified and can look further into the situation. All in all, it keeps the donor safe from blood diseases. According to BNL Blood Drive, 4.5 million Americans a year would perish without blood donations, and just as many as one pint of blood can save up to three people. Just the fact that you will be helping another human being should be enough to convince you to participate, but if not there are also the benefits above.

Horizon Honors needs students who dare themselves to go out of their comfort zones, and in this case, to donate blood to those in need. Even if you personally can’t, you can ask an adult, such as a parent or guardian, to donate in your place. Prove to yourself and to those around you that you can dare yourself to be selfless and become a participant in this upcoming blood drive. Whether you’re one to step in and give a helping hand to someone in need, or whether you will sit back and donate to Pre-Med club, we all must believe that you will support this drive. And this is creating a dream of a healthy society. Follow Horizon’s values by coming to the blood drive and donating blood!