For many high schoolers in Israel, giving blood is part of life. As such, 372 public high schools around the country took part in a competition to determine which school donates the most blood to the nation�s blood bank. A total of 15,284 units were donated, 2,000 more than in the previous year�s competition.

Taking the first place slot were the students of the Mevo�ot Yam School in Machmoret, in which 90% of students 17 and older gave blood. Second place went to the Shaffirim School in Kibbutz Givat Chaim (89%) and third place to Yeshivat S�dei Yaakov with 88%.

Ministry of Education officials were pleased with the noticeable increase, citing the importance of teaching the nation�s young to donate blood when possible for doing so saves lives.

(YWN � Israel Desk, Jerusalem)