Schools

Mar Vista Navy ROTC Blood Drive Sets Record to Save Lives

A blood drive held earlier this week at Mar Vista High School brought in near five times the amount of blood typically donated at drives held in Southern California and was the second largest ever held at the school.

The Navy Junior ROTC program at Mar Vista High School held a blood drive earlier this week in which more than 100 students volunteered to donate 125 pints of blood. 

According to the American Red Cross, it was the second most successful blood drive ever held at Mar Vista.

Of the 30 to 40 blood drives held across Southern California by the Red Cross each week, the average drive brings in 25 to 30 units of blood, said Nick Sarmaniego with the Red Cross. 

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For reasons he could not explain, Sarmaniego said Southern California consistently needs to import 20 to 30 percent of blood used in hospitals from neighboring states to meet the region's demands.

"It's a little sobering to know that we're not getting the job done here and need to bring it in from neighboring states," he said. "So when you see a group of students come together to donate as much as they have it goes a long way and makes a big difference."

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"We had so many kids that wanted to donate that they couldn't take it all," said Doug Hatfield, the Mar Vista ROTC Commander, who said the school and ROTC program had plenty of students "ready to stand up and put their arm out.

The Navy Junior ROTC Color Guard also assisted VFW Post 5179 veterans from Southeast San Diego in the San Diego County Veterans Day Parade Friday.


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