| Aggie
Blood drive: 'That little pinch will save up to three
lives'
By Jessica
Collett
March 20, 2008| Kara Brown walked
into the Taggart Student Center and up the stairs to
the Sunburst lounge. She was nervous to give blood for
her first time, but after her dad was diagnosed with
cancer and she knew they did everything they could do
to save his life, she wanted to give another family
the opportunity to know the same thing.
She signed her name at the front
desk as a man smiled and handed her a packet to go through
about what she needed to know before giving blood.
"OK, I'm ready," Kara said.
The phlebotomist took her to a designated area to ask
her some questions.
"I know this may be a lot,"
the phlebotomist said, "but we want to make sure blood
recipients get the highest quality possible."
Kara's temperature and blood pressure
were taken, to make sure she was healthy, followed by
a blood test to confirm she had enough iron. Kara then
answered a few more questions privately, for confidentiality,
and was ready to give blood.
"I've always been afraid of
needles," Kara said. The Red Cross worker smiled as
she led her to a nearby chair.
Kara looked away and held up her
right arm, with the better veins, as the phlebotomist
prepped her for the blood donation. She held her breath
and tried to relax as the phlebotomist gently put the
needle in her arm.
"That was it? That was just
a little pinch!" Kara said.
"Yep, and that little pinch
will save up to three lives. Now just about 6-8 minutes
and you are done," the phlebotomist said.
Kara released a deep breath and looked
over her arm to see the bag fill with her blood. Her
blood that would save lives. She felt overwhelmed with
accomplishment.
Kara is in the 5 percent of people
in the United States who donate each year. Thirty-eight
percent are eligible. Utah State proudly gave 754 units
of blood last year in the Blood Battle against the University
of Utah, which only gave 485 and is roughly twice the
size.
The first Utah State-wide blood drive
will be April 7-9 through the American Red Cross from
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This will be the first time regional
campuses are involved, which make up 42 percent of Utah
State's student body. USU's enrollment has also increased
3.4 percent from fall 2006, so more donations are anticipated.
"Although it sounds cliche,
it is a great feeling saving lives," German Ellsworth,
Val R. Christensen Service Center Director said. "The
Red Cross is a great organization to work with and always
fulfill their commitments."
Facts are often mentioned that blood
can save up to three lives and every two seconds someone
needs blood. Not only that, but no donation blood is
wasted. Blood is a medicine and can be broken down into
red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and plasma.
An accident victim needs four to 40 units of red blood
cells, premature babies need 104 units of red blood
cells and heart transplant patients need four to six
units of red blood cells. White cells are given to patients
with disease or cancer, platelets help control bleeding
as well as help cancer patients who receive treatments
and plasma is given to burn patients.
"I love my job," Denine Harris,
an American Red Cross phlebotomist, said, "My dad was
given a heart transplant and was saved by those who
donate. Blood donors don't do it because it is their
job and no one is forcing them. They are there because
they want to be."
The American Red Cross provides 45
percent of the nation's blood supply. Even for those
who are not able to donate, there are ways to get involved
such as volunteer or recruit donors. Blood is not going
to be available for unexpected accidents. Not without
donations.
For more blood donation facts or
ways to volunteer, go to
American Red Cross .
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