Kasie Von Haden winces when the technician inserts the needle into her arm. It takes some time, and a little assistance from a second technician, before blood begins to flow into the attached tube. Even then, it doesn't flow fast enough to continue, and the technicians have to stop the donation.
"This time … my blood was really slow coming out of my arm. They decided not to proceed," said Von Haden, a junior English major from Tomah, Wis.
Von Haden, however, remains eager to try donating again.
The Feb. 3 on-campus blood drive, held in the Reinhart Center boardroom, was sponsored by Residence Hall Council and BloodCenter of Wisconsin.
According to its website, BloodCenter of Wisconsin is a "not-for-profit organization specializing in blood collection and distribution, diagnostic testing, medical services and research" that has been in operation since 1947.
Donations through the BloodCenter of Wisconsin reach patients in "56 hospitals in 28 countines in Wisconsin," according to BloodCenter of Wisconsin's website.
"Out of 78 people who registered to donate, 56 donated whole blood, two donated platelets, and three donated red blood cells" said Katie Corcoran, RHC President and senior chemistry major from Altura, Minn.
"One hundred seventy-six Wisconsin hospital patients will benefit from those donations" Corcoran said.
The most common type of donation is a whole blood donation, in which the donation contains "red cells, platelets, plasma, and white cells" according to the BloodCenter of Wisconsin's website.
A donation consists of about one pint of blood and a few "small test tubes," which is enough blood to save three lives according to American Red Cross' website.
"Five million patients in the U.S. need blood every year" according to American Red Cross' website. BloodCenter of Wisconsin's website states that the hospitals to which it contributes alone need 700 units of blood "each and every day."
Donors may also donate platelets, plasma, and red blood cells individually. These donations take more time, but are "highly efficient for patients," according to the BloodCenter of Wisconsin's website. One plasma donation contains triple the amount of plasma as one whole blood donation, and one double red cell donation contains double the number of red blood cells as one whole blood donation.
"They also mentioned that they typically only get around 40 people at a similar event," Corcoran said of the BloodCenter of Wisconsin.
The surplus of donations helped to make up for the cancelled donations and blood drives that resulted from a Feb. 2 storm.
BloodCenter of Wisconsin's website warns that "BloodCenter is experiencing a blood emergency" due to the Feb. 2 storm, which "resulted in a loss of nearly 1500 units of blood for patients in our community."
American Red Cross's website states that the "number of blood donations gone uncollected due to winter storms rose to nearly 23,000 overnight" due to that same storm system and that additional cancelations are likely.
"People need (the blood)," said Tyler Stamm, senior theater major from Kewaskum, Wis. "Especially today with the blizzards that have been going on."
"I don't need the blood" added Amanda Marshall, junior criminal justice major from Hewitt, Wis. "Losing one pint doesn't hurt."
"It's a really easy way to help others and give what I have without a whole lot of work," said Von Haden. "My blood can save people's lives. What's cooler than that?"
Lauren Ann Rehrauer said that she was convinced by fellow students to participate in last year's blood drive.
"Now I can't stop," said Rehrauer, a sophomore organizational communication studies and criminal justice major from Las Vegas, Nev.
"All of the students involved with the blood drive were very enthusiastic," said Corcoran. For some of those students, it wastheir first time donating.
Marshall had donated so many times that she had lost count.
"I wish they would do them every two months," she said of the blood drive.
Other student donors praised the convenience of the on-campus blood drive as well.
"It's convenient for students." Von Haden said of the location of the blood drive. "I would just encourage others to donate if they haven't thought about it yet."
"The blood drive provides students the opportunity to donate blood conveniently when they otherwise may have been unable to" Corcoran said.
"RHC sponsored their first blood drive last year, and this year we were approached by the BloodCenter of Wisconsin to sponsor it again this year. We supplied the volunteers to help setup and to help out at the canteen area" Corcoran said.
Bloodcenter of Wisconsin hosted a blood drive on April 8, 2010, as part of Viterbo University's Community Health Fair.
"I think RHC will continue to sponsor thihs event. It is an excellent opportunity to allow students to contribute to an excellent organization" Corcoran said.
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