Scotland School Blood Drive: Little Doctors™ Help To Save Lives by Cheryl Osher

On Thursday, January 17th from 4:00-8:30pm, Scotland Elementary School will be sponsoring Connecticut’s second student-run blood drive.  On this day, students who have worked to both educate and recruit potential donors, will act as ambassadors for the drive, escorting people to their seats, handing out snacks and juice and entertaining the children of the donors while they wait.   

The Little Doctors™ program makes children aware of the importance of donating blood and how to approach people about becoming blood donors.  It also creates a familiar, accessible location for the Ridgefield community.   According to the  New York Blood Center, who is responsible for sponsoring this drive, only 2% of the eligible population donates blood each year, which is somewhat attributed to people not knowing where to go to donate.

“The blood drive was created by Karen Brothers, who is a teacher in New York who wanted her elementary-aged students to experience the responsibility and pride that is associated with collecting blood that saves lives,” states Cheryl Osher, a fifth grade teacher at Scotland.  “One pint and an hour of your time can make a huge difference in someone else’s life.” 

People who are interested in donating must be between the ages of 16 (with a permission from a parent) and 75, not have traveled outside of the country in the past year, one hundred ten pounds or more and in good general health at the time of donation.  They may arrive at Scotland Elementary school at 111 Barlow Mountain Road between the hours of 4:00 and 8:30pm on Thursday, January 17th to donate.