In conjunction with Doane Serves and Nebraska Community Blood Band, Health and Medical Occupations Club (HMOC) is hosting a blood drive this week on Feb. 14.
The blood drive will be held in the lower level of Perry Campus Center from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Appointments prior to the day of the blood drive are recommended. Those who wish to donate can go to the Nebraska Community Blood Bank website and search drives and enter the code DCO. Students can also register on Helper Helper to volunteer at the event.
Assistant Professor of Biology and HMOC Advisor Rebecca Sprouse is the liaison between the Blood Bank and HMOC. Sprouse is in charge of making sure the logistics are in place and the drive runs smoothly. HMOC students are in charge of recruiting, advertising and volunteering.
Sprouse explains that the “benefits of donating blood are endless.” Every 2 seconds someone in the U.S. needs a blood donation, according to Sprouse. The average blood transfusion needs 3 units of blood which equals 3 donors. Everyone is needed when it comes to donating blood. “All blood types are needed but genetically, most Americans are Type O or A. Those types are always needing stocked on the shelves as they are the most commonly transfused blood types,” Sprouse said.
Furthermore, the rare blood types need to be stocked as well because they are more type-specific and those recipients can only take certain types of blood.
Giving blood saves lives which is why Sprouse believes that students should consider giving back to their community.
“I’m sure everyone knows someone who has needed a blood transfusion at one point in their life,” Sprouse said.
From start to finish the donation takes approximately 45 minutes but the hard part only lasts 5 to 7 minutes. Students unsure if they can donate due to tattoos, piercings, or sexual health can visit the Nebraska Community Blood Bank website to see if they qualify.
Examples of why someone might not qualify include recent cold or flu symptoms, pregnancy, are currently taking antibiotics, have specific communicable diseases and more.
Sprouse urges students who may have had negative donating experiences in the past to give it another chance as the phlebotomists at the blood bank are “so great and make the experience easy and comfortable.”
For students signed up to donate, they are encouraged to drink an extra 32 oz of water the day prior and an extra 16 oz the day of. Sprouse also encourages donors to eat a protein and carbohydrate-rich meal.
“Many people don’t like needles, but the thing to remember is that this is such a quick and small price to pay for a big impact,” Sprouse said.
The plan is to have the next drive on April 24 to accommodate those who are repeat donors.
Questions can be directed to Sprouse at rebecca.sprouse@doane.edu or HMOC President and Senior Tiffany Carnahan at tiffany.carnahan@doane.edu.
