TIGER TV ONLINE REPORTER
For every pint of blood donated at a blood drive, three lives are saved.
If even 10 percent of the University’s student body were to donate blood that would be almost 9,000 lives saved. Students and faculty were given the opportunity to do just that Monday afternoon.
United Blood Services parked a blood drive bus in front of the Student Union from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday.
According to Sommer Ward, a representative for United Blood Services, they come to the campus every three to eight weeks on Mondays and Fridays. The success of the drive tends to vary with students, but Ward said Monday was more successful than they had hoped.
“Our goal for the day was 30 people, but we always hope to get over our goal,” Ward said. “So far we’ve had a very successful day.”
Right now the area’s blood bank is getting low in negative blood types and that is mostly what they need donated. It changes from day to day though Ward said.
“There could be an accident at any point and then we could suddenly need more of a certain blood type,” Ward said.
There is a constant need for blood. In fact, 60 percent of people need to receive blood at some point in their life. Blood transfusions, traumatic accidents, cancer, burn accidents and even elective surgery are all reasons why people receive blood.
If the blood bank is low, people waiting on elective surgeries are sometimes rescheduled because they have to keep a certain amount of blood at hand in case of an emergency.
When a person donates blood, they donate a pint at a time. If a person donating has a blood type that is currently low in the blood bank they may be asked to donate two pints depending on their weight, height and gender.
People who wish to donate must be at least 16 years old and weigh 110 pounds. It is not necessary to have given blood before or to know your blood type.
If it is your first time they will prick your finger to determine what blood type you are. After donating once, you receive a blood donation card that denotes your blood type.
Adam Master, business freshman, gave blood for the first time Monday and thought it was a great experience.
“It didn’t hurt at all and its a good cause,” Master said. “I would definitely donate again.”
Not all students are as willing as Master.
United Blood Services offers different incentives to get students to donate. Monday they were giving “I bleed purple and gold,” t-shirts to students who donated. They will have t-shirts again on Friday.
They also have a reward program. Every time you donate blood you receive 100 points. The points can be used to buy prizes such as movie tickets and CDs.
“There are a lot of people sick or hurt in hospitals that need blood, so if I can help out there’s no reason I shouldn’t,” said Colin Baldridge, micro-biology sophomore, who also donating Monday afternoon.
