Karla Garcia
Connector Staff
The American Red Cross is looking for student volunteers to promote blood drives on campus.
At the most recent blood drive, hosted in Cumnock Hall, the American Red Cross only had a total of 44 appointments, and are hoping to get more volunteers in the future. Dave Koerner, the recruiter for the American Red Cross said, “Amy Liss, the associate director of student activities, was the one who set up the blood drive. However, they are looking for a student group to take on this responsibility.”
This would include setting up appointments and promoting upcoming blood drives. They typically occur once a month. The American Red Cross hope believes that if the events are promoted regularly by the students, maybe more people could be recruited to donate.
According to the American Red Cross, every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood, more than 41,000 blood donations are needed every day, a single car accident victim can require as many as 100 pints of blood, and more than 1.6 million people were diagnosed with cancer last year and many of them will need blood daily during their chemotherapy treatment.
Students who participated in the recent blood drive realize the importance of donating blood, as they have all donated blood multiple times. Maura Pinard said, “I donate because I know it helps people and they said itsneeded…I know a lot of people can’t donate so I figured if I can I should.”
UML senior Aidan St. James also realizes the importance of donating. He said, “There’s always a shortage so if you’re healthy enough to give blood why shouldn’t you.”
There are also other donors who are giving for other reasons. UML student Ashley Bretton said, “I donate to help someone…it’s the holiday season, a season for giving and thanking.”
It is important to educate and encourage more people to donate blood. According to the American Red Cross, the number of blood donations collected in the U.S. in a year is 15.7 million, and the number of blood donors in the U.S. in a year is 9.2 million. Although an estimated 38 percent of the U.S. population is eligible to donate, less than 10 percent actually do each year. Also, among American Red Cross donors in a given year, 19 percent donate occasionally, 31 percent are first time donors, and 50 percent are regular, loyal donors.
The next American Cross blood drive is being held on Dec. 9 in the Cumnock Hall Auditorium.
