Little Doctors of Deer Park take action at community blood drive

Deer Park's John F. Kennedy (JFK) Intermediate School students were academically prepared to host a blood drive at their school gymnasium. In accordance with the New York Blood Center fifth grade students have been enrolled in the "Little Doctors" program as part of their science curriculum.

During the last several weeks, students have been immersed in the circulatory system, learning all critical roles it plays in their lives and bodies. The Little Doctors program, tailored for their academic level, has helped students to become "experts" on the blood system, including its components, functions, disorders, and the importance of blood donors and transfusions.

Students gained valuable hands-on experience when medical equipment was introduced into the classroom. Stethoscopes enabled them to listen to their classmates beating hearts. They were then able to correlate the heartbeats with blood pumping throughout the entire body and learned how blood flow maintains the proper function of all their internal workings.

The culmination of their lessons led students to become active participants in a Deer Park New York Blood Center Blood Drive. Students were first educated on eligible candidate characteristics (i.e. good health, 16 or older, but younger than 76 and weight of at least 110 pounds) and asked to encourage at least 10 family members and friends to attend the event. Sent home with a donor signup sheet, students who returned with 10 possible donors received a beanie baby prize.

The JFK school gymnasium was adorned with handmade student posters educating donors and visitors on the significance of their contribution that will help and save the lives of others. During the blood drive, fifth grade students were outfitted in official medical scrubs to assist during the afternoon and night shifts registering donors and providing them with snacks and drinks throughout the event. As a result of the "Little Doctor's" committed efforts the Deer Park New York Blood Center Blood Drive registered 100 donors and collected 86 pints of blood.

Shown in the top photo, Deer Park's Little Doctors poised for action showcased their blood drive artwork before prepping their school's gymnasium for incoming donors.

Shown in the photo, Deer Park PTA President Trisha Fekete proudly wore her blue bandage and was provided with sugar cookies by Little Doctor Jessica Bauer after donating blood.

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