Thousands of MU students give the gift of life for Bloodstock '08
by Emily Schmidt, posted April 10, 2008
Every two seconds in the United States, someone needs a blood transfusion, according to the American Red Cross.
Bloodstock 08, the official Greek Week blood drive, has come and gone but its repercussions will be evident throughout Missouri and even the United States.
Many students and faculty volunteered to make this year’s blood drive a success. More that 257 volunteers were accounted for by the close of the day on April 9, the last day of the drive. More than 2,383 students checked in over the course of two days.
“It doesn’t take long, and it feels good to help philanthropies out,” said junior Tracy Sterling.
According to the Web site for the blood drive, donors should eat a well-balanced meal two hours before donating and should replenish the body with fluid and food after donating to keep the body from feeling faint.
“It wasn’t hard at all, and I felt like I was doing something good at the same time,” said freshman Sam Flora.
He is entirely correct. Blood is in constant demand. It is a perishable product, and the stock needs to be constantly refilled. Red blood cells are useable for 42 days and platelets only 5, according to the American Red Cross Web site. This blood can be used for victims of car accidents, cancer patients, heart-disease patients, transplant candidates, children with sickle cell among many other causes, according to the blood drives Web site.
“Giving blood is easy,” said freshman Emily Gilbert. “It doesn’t hurt and every pint of blood saves three lives.”
Although this is the Greek Week blood drive, non-Greek students could still give in the place of a Greek or via a simple piece of paperwork. The deferral day is April 15 for those who weren’t able to give April 8 or 9.
The process for the drive is simple: registration, health history, donation, and finally refreshments.
“I was very scared to give blood, even though this is my fourth time,” said sophomore Nathan Gilbert. “I know I am helping a good cause, and it can’t get better than that.”
