Blood drive committee sets goal of 1,200 donations
Increase of sites to allow students the ability to donate between classes
The Red Cross, Community Blood Center and the University of Kansas Blood Drive Committee are sponsoring a week-long blood drive.
By Dylan Sands
Tuesday, September 25th, 2007
All students have to do is brave a needle and they will get the chance to save lives — and get cookies. Three groups have joined to bring a week-long blood drive to campus. They hope to provide enough donation sites to allow students to make donations between classes.
The University of Kansas Blood Drive Committee, the Red Cross and the Community Blood Center are sponsoring the blood drive. Last semester, the groups held a similar drive with a goal of 800 donations. They did not reach their goal, but rather than aiming lower, they have decided to aim higher.
“We’ve set a goal of 1,200 units this semester,” Leslie Rhoton, committee member and Lawrence junior said. “The feedback we’ve been getting on campus has pushed us to feel we’ll be more successful this semester.”
Students can donate at the Red Cross buses outside the Kansas Union and on Daisy Hill. Another station is located in the Kansas Union Ballroom. A mobile unit will also travel to fraternities and other organizations to help the committee meet its goal.
The committee will display a large banner on Wescoe Hall to let students know how close the drive is to reaching its goal each day.
“We can tell students that we’re not doing so well, and maybe they’ll want to help us out,” Rhoton said.
Donors must complete a form regarding their health history and conduct a brief confidential interview with a health professional before giving blood. It takes seven to 10 minutes to draw one pint of blood. Afterward, donors can relax with refreshments such as juice and cookies.
Rhoton said she had never donated blood until she joined the committee.
“I had a friend hold my hand the whole time,” Golub said. “I was probably the biggest baby you’ve ever seen.”
Allison Golub, Overland Park freshman, donated blood Monday afternoon. She said students should look past the needle and take the chance to help others.
“It makes me nervous, but if I look away I’m fine,” she said. “But people and hospitals need the blood. It’s a good thing.”
According to the Red Cross, blood is needed every two seconds in the U.S. One pint of blood is enough to save the lives of three people.
— Edited by Elizabeth Cattell
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