By Ruth Benzar
As many of you may know, the University of Portland sponsored a blood drive through the Honors Program last week, on Thursday and Friday, Sept. 10 and 11.
Despite the fact that it was only one and a half weeks after students moved back in and classes had begun, the Pilots once again pulled through, with the drive yielding an astonishing 136 units of blood over the two-day period.
Someone told me once that the students at the University of Portland are "blood-giving machines" and I have witnessed everyone's zeal to donate blood numerous times, so I suppose I shouldn't be so surprised.
It is, however, a very curious phenomenon when you look at the statistics just two years ago, that there were a mere 37 units for a one-day drive, so the fact that it has nearly quadrupled is incredible, and I commend all of you, including both the donors and the volunteers that made it possible.
These 136 units of blood can be distributed to up to 408 people whose lives may have been saved by your generosity.
There are a couple of more recent opportunities as blood donors.
One that I would especially like to encourage is the Double Red Cell procedure, in which a donor can give twice the amount of red cells, and then the remaining blood components are given back to him or her.
This leaves him or her feeling better after the donation process, since the plasma was put back into the bloodstream and the blood volume isn't as low as it would have been with a regular whole blood donation.
There are certain criteria for double red cell donations, including the fact that males must be at least 5'1" and weigh 130 lbs, while females must be at least 5'5" and weigh 150 lbs; additionally, everyone must have a hemoglobin level of at least 13.3 gm/dl, which is slightly higher than the normal 12.5 gm/dl requirement. The blood types for this donation are O+ O- B- and A-.
For regular whole blood donations, there are new height and weight requirements for donors between the ages of 16 and 18, just to prevent reactions to giving blood, which has been an issue in the past. For eligibility questions, feel free to call 1-800-737-0902 or email canidonate@usa.redcross.org.
For more information in general, you can visit nwblood.redcross.org, and to schedule your next appointment check out givelife.org.
Although this blood drive has passed, I would encourage all of you to still think about the importance of giving blood and consider making an appointment at either our next drive on Nov. 9 and 10 at the University of Portland or at your earliest convenience at the Red Cross, which is located just off the 44 bus line, at 3131 N Vancouver Avenue, Portland, OR 97227.
The numbers are convicting-blood products are needed every two seconds throughout the United States, and for an hour of your time, you can save up to three lives.
As doctors, paramedics or firemen, that may be the case as well, but this is an amazing opportunity for us students to impact our own community, including 80 of our local hospitals in Oregon and Washington.
Don't hesitate to email me with any questions, at benzar12@up.edu, and thank you for extending your arms to give this gift of life!
Ruth Benzar is a sophomore
biology major
