On Monday, Feb. 6, Marquette’s National Honor Society (NHS) held its seventh annual blood drive in partnership with the Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center.

118 people went through the process of donating blood, and 103 units of blood were actually usable. Each unit of blood after it is processed can save up to three lives according to the Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center.

Abby Flores, treasurer of the 2011-2012 NHS, volunteered her day to work the blood drive.

“I worked the blood drive during first, second, third and fifth hour, and I planned on giving blood during fourth hour,” Flores, senior, said. “However, I was unable to give blood because after answering the health questionnaire that determines whether or not you can donate blood given family history and your own medical history, I learned that because I went to the Dominican Republic, I was unable to give blood.”

Nurr Masri, senior, also gave blood on Monday.

“I was really excited about the blood drive,” Masri said. “It was my sixth time donating which amounts to about 1.5 gallons donated in my lifetime.”

Masri said she didn’t get sick after donating like a lot of the other students that donated.

“I just had a small headache later and I got really tired that night,” Masri said.

Masri was almost unable to donate because of her iron levels.

“When they checked my iron levels the first time it was 11.3 and to donate it has to be 12.5,” Masri said. “The nurse pricked a different finger and it turned out to be 13.1. My mom is anemic so I’m always afraid I’ll have low iron and not be able to donate.”

Lynn Johnston, senior, also gave blood this past Monday.

“I thought it went quite well as usual,” Johnston said. “It was my third time giving blood. I find it very gratifying knowing that I’m doing something to help someone else who really needs it. Also giving blood is good for you. It gets the ‘old blood/erythrocytes’ out so your body can get newer blood flowing throughout your body.”