Volunteers to Assist Aspiring Phlebotomists at Sand Creek High

A line of volunteers snaked into a classroom on the second floor of Sand Creek High School Thursday, February 5. Each represented a valuable opportunity for the scrub-clad seniors waiting to greet them. 

This spring, seniors enrolled in SCHS Health Sciences Program are currently pursuing certifications in phlebotomy, or, the practice of drawing blood, using a needle, for laboratory testing. Each student must complete a required minimum number of successful blood draws to qualify for the national certification exam. 

During the first week of February, they welcomed SCHS students and members of the community to sit in as patients. 

“If you look at me, I’m getting a little older,” noted Lori Thompson, a member of the D49 Board of Education. “These are some of the people who are going to be taking care of me. I really support the CTE opportunities going into the medical field, and I think it’s really important that we give them the chance  to practice these things.” 

All procedures followed strict protocols under the close supervision of their teacher, William Yerger. Students who go on to earn their national phlebotomy certification will have the option of entering the healthcare workforce immediately after graduation.