The good news is your blood donation can save a life. Even more good news is NHS is hosting a winter blood drive at BPHS on Thursday, Jan. 19 from 8 a.m.- 1 p.m.

This is a great opportunity to help people who are in serious need of blood. It also is in the middle of the school day, so students who don’t have the time to donate blood outside of school have the chance to donate blood as well.

It also is helping NHS raise money for its scholarship fund.

If considering donating, here are some tips for a successful experience:

Drink a ton of extra water and eat a good meal. However, avoiding carbs is very important to do before giving blood.

Getting a good night’s sleep the night before the blood drive also can help during the process.

After the donation, it is good to enjoy a snack, relax, and keep the bandages on for a few hours to avoid a skin rash of any kind.

Finally, a good tip is to keep eating foods with high iron. Iron-rich foods include meat, eggs, and seafood.

If considering signing up please sign up with this link.