Potomac Falls Hosts Major Blood Drive in Region | LoudounExtra.com

Around 140 students donated blood during Potomac Falls High School's 10th annual blood drive Thursday afternoon.

The Potomac Falls Youth and Government Club organized the blood drive and coordinated with the American Red Cross to run the drive from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m.

According to the Red Cross, it is one of the largest student-donor blood drives in the Chesapeake-Potomac region, said teacher Jim Chrisman.

Last week, Chrisman spoke with multiple classes at the high school encouraging students to donate. His words hit a chord with Avery Dice, a senior at Potomac Falls.

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Potomac Falls Annual Blood Drive

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Students at Potomac Falls High School donated blood from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday during the school's annual blood drive. (Charity Corkey)

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Avery Dice, a senior at Potomac Falls High School, clenches a device to prepare her veins for the blood donation. (Charity Corkey)

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Taylor Woodlief, a tenth-grader at Potomac Falls High School, holds her arm up after completing the donation process. (Charity Corkey)

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Potomac Falls junior Luke Reeping gives a nervous thumbs-up before donating blood on Thursday. (Charity Corkey)

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A Red Cross worker cleans Reeping's arm before inserting the needle. (Charity Corkey)

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Luke Reeping, a junior at Potomac Falls High School, nears the end of the blood donation process. (Charity Corkey)

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According to a Red Cross nurse, the average blood donation requires five to 15 minutes depending on the flow of the vein. (Charity Corkey)

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"Mr. Chrisman said that 95 percent of people in our area will need blood once in their life, but only 25 percent of people will donate," said Dice, while waiting her turn in line. "Plus, my grandparents have needed blood."

Across the room from Dice, Potomac Falls junior Luke Reeping sipped nervously on water while a Red Cross nurse prepped his arm for a needle.

Despite the nerves in the room, the school's efforts at the end of the day resulted in a total collection of 158 pints of blood.

"According to the Red Cross, each pint of blood can be broken down for three different individuals," said Chrisman, "so it comes out to 474 people that can benefit."