Last-Blood-Drive-of-the-Semester

Contact: Behnke, Kyle D

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Students, faculty and community members alike took advantage of the opportunity to save lives by donating blood one more time this semester before winter break.

The American Red Cross came to the Laird room in the Dreyfus University Center on Dec. 3 and 4 from 10 a.m to 4 p.m.

The University of Wisconsin- Stevens Point has been very successful in donating so far this academic year. The Blood Center of Wisconsin previously came to campus on the Sept. 23 and 24.

“During the last drive we managed to get 225 units, beating our goal of 170 units by quite a bit,” said Katie Morici who coordinates all of the blood drives for the Student Involvement and Employment Office.

While the option to register online is available on SIEO’s webpage, walk-ins are always welcomed and encouraged. If a potential donor is feeling healthy the day of the drive, they are able to give blood upon arrival and if they have any tattoos or piercings that were done by a licensed Wisconsin parlor, there is no longer a waiting period for donation.

To donate, one must be at least 16 years of age and weigh a minimum of 110 pounds. It only takes a few minutes to donate and allows donors to significantly help someone in need of whole blood, double red cells, or platelets.

Morici did not want to get her hopes up too high before this last drive.

“I don’t expect as impressive of a turnout this time around due to the cold and flu season paired with the colder weather; there are less people walking the streets, so we are less likely to get walk-ins,” Morici said.

Although this was the last blood drive of the semester, there are still two more opportunities left during the academic year at UWSP.

The Blood Center of Wisconsin will be returning on Feb. 24 and 25, and the American Red Cross will be returning on April 22 and 23. There are typically four blood drives throughout the course of the academic year. Two are held by each organization, so there are plenty of opportunities to donate.

Regular donation is both safe and encouraged. According to the American Red Cross, one can donate whole blood every 56 days, up to six times per year, platelets up to 24 times per year, plasma every 28 days or up to 13 times per year, and double red cells every 112 days or three times per year.

Donating blood is great way to help someone in the community or perhaps even the world. As stated by the American Red Cross, someone is in need of blood approximately every two seconds.

The American Red Cross also states that roughly half of all blood donations across the United States are done at blood drives, though only about 8 percent of the eligible population actually donates. UWSP is actively working to raise that percentage and keep meeting or exceeding its goals.

For questions regarding eligibility to donate, call the Red Cross at 1-866-236-3276, or the Blood Center of Wisconsin at 1-888-310-7555. For questions about blood drives at UWSP, please contact Katie Morici at sieodrive@uwsp.edu.​ 







Byline: Mykayla Hilgart
Section: Pointlife
E-Mail: mhilg143@uwsp.edu
Headline: Last Blood Drive of the Semester
Issue Date: 12/5/2013
Display Date: 12-05-2013
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