Inside Iowa State

Sept. 22, 2006

Save lives -- give blood

by Samantha Beres

Nearly every 2 seconds, someone in America needs blood; 32,000 pints of blood are used each day; about 5 million Americans receive blood transfusions each year; only 5 percent of the eligible population actually donates blood.

"Just look at the statistics to see why you should give blood," said Holly Engelstad of the ISU Blood Drive Executive Council. "You never know when you yourself or someone you care about might need blood."

Engelstad added that the ISU Blood Drive is one of the largest student-run blood drives in the nation. Last spring brought the most successful blood drive in the 30-year history of blood drives at Iowa State, with 2,120 pints of blood. The goal this fall is to surpass that number.

Student organizers encourage faculty to offer extra credit to students who volunteer at the drive or donate. Also, to accommodate busy schedules, faculty and staff get to cut to the front of the line when they show up to donate.

The blood drive is staffed by workers from the American Red Cross, and blood collected will go to blood centers around Iowa that participate in the drive.

For more information, e-mail Paul Vulcan, pvulcan@iastate.edu.

Blood Drive Oct. 2-6

Monday-Thursday, 10-5
Friday, 10-4
Great Hall, MU

• Takes approximately 30 minutes
• Bring some form of identification

"You never know when you yourself or someone you care about might need blood."

Holly Engelstad, ISU Blood Drive Executive Council