It wasn’t first time Amanda Higgins had donated blood, but she doesn’t describe herself as a veteran donor. She felt it was something she could do to help.

Higgins, a school counselor, was one of about 30 people who had registered to donate blood Tuesday at a blood drive sponsored by Montezuma-Cortez High School’s honor society.

“It’s an important need we have, and it’s something easy that almost anyone can do,” said Higgins, whose blood is Type A-positive.

Paulette Esquibel, a donor specialist with Vitalant, formerly United Blood Services, said 460 to 525 milliliters of blood would be drawn from each donor, depending on their weight, height and age.

Vanessa Kaiser, also with Vitalant, said weight, height and age are considered for donors ages 16 to 22. Donors older than 22 must only weigh more than 110 pounds.

“O-negative is the universal donor. It can go to anybody, so we like that. O-positive is the most common blood type. Otherwise for A and B, we prefer taking plasma and platelets,” she said.

Sierra Haley, 16, a junior at M-CHS, said she was donating blood for the first time. She filled out an online survey before being ushered into an RV that had been converted into a mobile blood donation center parked behind the auxiliary gym.

“I don’t know my blood type. I guess I’ll find out today,” she said.

Haley would indeed find out her blood type, employees from Vitalant informed her, but only after her blood was tested and processed at a lab in El Paso. She was told Vitalant would send her a form informing her of her blood type.

“It’s for a good cause, and I want to help people,” Haley said.

Maelee Fraiser, 16, a junior at M-CHS, who accompanied Haley, agreed the donation was something she could do to help the community. She too said it was her first time donating blood. “I don’t like needles.”

Students, teachers and staff weren’t the only donors at the school.

Tara Walker of Dolores showed up after she was alerted by Vitalant that a blood drive would occur at the school.

“When the Vegas shootings a few years back happened, I started donating,” she said. “I got an email notifying me that a drive would be at the school, and I scheduled an appointment.

parmijo @the-journal.com