One pint of blood and 15 minutes could save three lives, said Elizabeth Giles, Inland Northwest Blood Center’s marketing and communication officer.
The University of Idaho hosted an American Red Cross blood drive from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday on the second floor of the Teaching and Learning Center.
UI holds blood drives from either American Red Cross or Inland Northwest Blood Center, and sometimes both, at least once a month. Blood drives are organized through the ASUI Center for Volunteerism and Social Action.
“My job is to find sponsors for the blood drives here on campus, make sure everything is organized for the blood drive so it goes smoothly,” said Maggy Hand, ASUI Center for Volunteerism and Social Action blood drive coordinator. “Anyone can sponsor a blood drive. In the past sponsors have been various chapter groups, clubs, houses, and single people even.”
Hand said college campuses are one of the main sources blood donations come from. An average of 20 to 30 UI students donate per drive, she said.
UI student Adam Hudson, who has type O-negative blood, which can be transfused to patients of all blood types, said he has donated blood at UI five times.
“I got talked into it my first time, and after I found out my blood type was O-negative, I thought it would be a good idea since O-negative blood is rare and always in high demand,” Hudson said.
Hudson said needles make him nervous, but despite his dislike, he donates blood anyways.
“Donating blood is important for me since my specific blood type can help everyone and a lot of lives can be saved from it,” he said.
In addition to blood drives by American Red Cross, Inland Northwest Blood Center also frequently hosts blood drives at UI. Giles said INBC is the only provider of blood for the area’s hospitals.
“To satisfy the needs of our area hospitals, every day we need 200 blood donors, or about 150 pints of blood,” Giles said.
Even though students are constantly busy, Giles said blood saves lives and giving blood is a gift from the heart.
“By law, blood transfusion donors can’t be paid, so donating blood is a true donation that does tremendous work in our area,” Giles said. “When you need blood you don’t think about where it comes from, but it is everyone’s duty to make sure we have enough blood to support our community.”
UI’s next blood drive is hosted by the American Red Cross, and will take place at 11 a.m. March 19 in the TLC Clearwater-Whitewater room.
Michelle Gregg
University of Idaho freshmen Montana Sturges, holds up his donated blood with pride at the blood drive in the Commons, Wednesday.
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