BLOOD DONORS A KENNEDY HIGHLIGHT.

Byline: Dana Bartholomew Staff Writer

GRANADA HILLS - Hockey forward Artak Moskovyan hits 'em at the net, checks 'em at the boards and wields a mighty big stick.

But when it came to giving blood Thursday at John F. Kennedy High School, the Granada Hills senior was all whimpers.

``I'm afraid, man, I don't know,'' said Moskovyan, emitting a series of small moans as Red Cross workers prepped his arm. ``I hate needles.''

The Kennedy High blood drive, conducted by the Red Cross of Southern California, went for the hat trick - hoping to reign as top blood collector in Los Angeles for the third consecutive year.

Collecting up to 400 units of blood - enough to help save the victims of eight serious car crashes - would also bolster a Southern California blood supply that is only now recovering from a crisis last winter.

Like blood banks nationwide, the American Red Cross of Southern California has struggled to rebuild supplies since the flood of donations immediately after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in 2001.

``We're doing OK, but pretty soon we'll be in tough times - the summer months,'' said Julie Juliusson, spokeswoman for the local Red Cross office, which serves the area from Ventura to San Diego.

`If it wasn't for the fact that we import 40 percent of the blood we need from the rest of the country, we would be in bad trouble.''

The local Red Cross has a seven-day supply of blood but could always use more - especially type O-positive, Juliusson said, A seven-day, rather than three-day, reserve is the new national benchmark since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Although Americans flocked in to donate blood after 9-11, only about 30 percent returned to give again, according to a May 7 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

``Americans are quick to respond in times of national emergency,'' said study author Dr. Simone Glynn. ``(But) many first-time donors may not realize that blood is needed every day to save the lives of accident victims or patients with cancer.''

Some of the most ardent donors, however, are in Los Angeles County. Lakewood High School near Cerritos is the regional champ, with 421 units collected last year. On May 22, the school hopes to collect 800 to 1,000 units and set a a national record.

At Kennedy, English teacher Jean Feldman has worked for 12 years to turn the Northwest Valley school into a plasma powerhouse. A year ago, Kennedy students rolled up their sleeves to give 324 units, a Los Angeles record, up from a leading 229 units in 2001.

``It's a lot of work,'' said Feldman, who was on her feet all day overseeing five stations of admitting, checking, blood collecting and reassuring and feeding at the high school gym.

``It's always the big football players who chicken out at the last minute,'' she said. ``It's the small girls who are the brave souls.''

Girls like Yadira Estrada, 17, of Los Angeles who lay quiet as a red stream was pumped through a tube from her arm.

``It feels good to give blood, but it hurts,'' she said. ``It's a good thing to save another life.''

Red Cross workers were thrilled with Estrada - and the nearly 600 Kennedy students who had pledged to give blood - and said they hoped to receive 380 to 400 usable units.

``Wonderful,'' said Mary Cirieco, a 50-year Red Cross volunteer from Van Nuys whose grandsons attend the school. ``This school has everything - the spirit of the children, the enthusiasm ... students helping students, people helping people.''

Students still had to buck up for that prick on the arm.

``If I see that, I'm like a little baby,'' said Brian Mosby, 17, of San Fernando as he looked away from the needle in his arm.

HealthScout News Service contributed to this report.

BLOOD FACTS

--Someone needs blood every 2 seconds. A victim of an auto crash or gunshot wound can receive up to 50 units.

--Children receive 20 percent of the blood transfused in California.

--In Southern California, the Red Cross supplies 1,500 units of blood each day.

--For more information about donating blood, call (800) GIVELIFE

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Photo:

(color) Kennedy High School senior Kamran Yousafzai, 18, grimaces as medical assistant Juana Mireles inserts a needle during the American Red Cross blood drive held on campus Thursday.

Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer

Box:

BLOOD FACTS (see text)