Red Crew and Red Cross host blood drive

Hannah Herbst
January 14, 2023

On Thursday, Jan. 12, the club, Red Crew, hosted a blood drive in conjunction with the Red Cross. The club was founded on “helping the community through the lens of healthcare,” primarily targeting the blood shortage and opioid epidemic, according to founder and senior Nick Scruton. Scruton’s work as a volunteer extern in the emergency department of Sutter Health Community Hospital has exposed him firsthand to both health crises, influencing him to take action.

“I made myself a goal. I said I was going to do a blood drive before I leave Redwood. I [always set goals like these] and never do them, so why not follow through,” Scruton said.

Teaming up with the Red Cross made this goal feasible for Scruton. 

“[The] Red Cross does a very good job of [supplying materials] and we really just have to host [the blood drive] and fill the appointment slots,” Scruton said.

Nick Scruton’s inspiration for the blood drive came from working as a volunteer extern at Sutter Community Health Hospital. (Photo courtesy of Nick Scruton)

Luckily, school was the ideal place to achieve these things. 

“High school blood drives are pivotal in that [students] are great donors … [they] rebound really quickly and they are able to give a lot [of blood] … we had so many people sign up that it was actually quite easy to fill the appointment slots. We actually had over 100 people on our waitlist,” Scruton said. 

 

Junior Francesca Wood was one of many blood donors. 

“I haven’t done any volunteering in my life, so I [thought], ‘Why not? [I] might as well [donate] if I’m not using [the blood],’” Wood said. 

Wood’s decision was despite additional misgivings over the uncomfort that comes with the donation process. Scruton acknowledges that while this process can be intimidating, it is incredibly substantial. 

“Every donation can save up to about three lives, which is quite remarkable when you consider that it’s pretty easy to donate. It’s sometimes scary, but it’s something that is really impactful,” Scruton said.

“I’m managing the snack table, making sure people don’t faint or pass out. I’m making sure people stay hydrated, and I let them know what they need to do for aftercare [for a blood draw] and how they can manage,” August Reed, a Red Crew member, said.
In terms of numbers, according to Scruton, the drive is expected to yield a profound impact to the community at large. 

“A lot of the blood that we donate will end up around the Bay [Area] in trauma centers, [chemotherapy] clinics, on ambulances, helicopters and all around. There’s such a high demand for blood.. in the Bay Area. … We’re hoping to get 50 units of blood from this drive, and [since] each unit can save about three lives, it is over 150 lives we might be able to save,” Scruton said.

In addition to hosting the blood drive, Scruton plans to focus the club’s next big event on its second goal, the opioid epidemic.

“We’re also planning on doing a Narcan distribution event, as well as some opiate and overdose education,” Scruton said.