Students have one last chance to donate blood on campus before the year ends.
The Student Health Center, in conjunction with five local blood banks, is holding a campus-wide blood drive on Tower Drive that will run Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Blood Center, Our Lady of the Lake, Ochsner, United Blood Services and LifeShare will take turns running two mobile blood donation units in front of the Student Union. The event marks the last of five campus-wide drives held this year.
The center has been organizing five campus-wide blood drives per year for the last four years. Organizers schedule each drive every eight weeks, with two drives in the fall, two drives in the spring and one drive in the summer, according to Kathy Saichuk, health promotions coordinator for the Student Health Center.
“We regulate when we hold the drives to make sure students aren’t trying to donate too often,” Saichuk said.
In addition to giving blood, the “Be The Match” campaign will enable people to donate bone marrow at one of the mobile donation units Wednesday.
Saichuk said those looking to donate blood should be sure to hydrate with plenty of water and eat a balanced meal before donating. Donors can expect a routine blood iron-count test and a series of background questions when donating.
Saichuk said event organizers would like as many people to donate as possible because the fast-approaching holiday season always sees an increased need for blood donations.
“We want everyone donating, and not just students — faculty and staff are encouraged to donate as well,” Saichuk said.
She said giving blood is a very simple thing to do and just one donation can have a positive effect on many lives.
“We’re ranked No. 1 in football,” Saichuk said. “It would be nice to start setting some records for blood donation,