Out for Portland State blood

Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood. Think about that for a moment. Over 38,000 blood transfusions are needed every single day, many of them for chronically ill or injured individuals. Hospitals need blood on hand for these people; it must be processed and checked for safety before it can be given to someone who needs it. And unlike so many other treatments a hospital can give a patient, blood cannot be made artificially. It has to come from donors.

The easiest way for donors to give blood for people in need is through the blood drives the American Red Cross holds throughout the United States. These drives, such as the four-day drive held at Portland State earlier this month, seek to relieve the constant need for blood and blood products, primarily locally. And, of course, they depend on those willing to voluntarily give blood.

Blood donors can expect to help save up to three lives with a single donation. That single donation is approximately one pint of blood, which is roughly equivalent to 10 percent of a healthy adult’s blood volume.

There are different types of donation, ranging from a standard donation (all blood components) to various individual components (plasma, red blood cells). Each donation takes about 10 minutes, with the overall process adding up to about one hour.

Many donors wonder about who gets their blood. The simplest answer is: There’s no way to know. All sorts of people receive blood on a regular basis. Someone undergoing chemotherapy is likely to need blood every few days. People who have surgeries can require between 20–100 infusions for a single surgery, depending on the scale. An accident victim can require as many as 100 pints of blood to survive. And people with blood-born diseases such as sickle cell anemia or bleeding disorders require blood and blood products on a regular basis.

Students here at PSU clearly understand the need. The American Red Cross blood drives held quarterly at PSU began as single-day events with a simple goal: try to get about 50 whole-blood donations. Every quarter, the drives grew. The Red Cross brought in specialized equipment for component donations. The staff representation at these drives multiplied. This month, the four-day blood drive at PSU—yes, four whole days—reached for new heights. The goal was now over 100 donations per day. Student and staff turnout at this drive proved that PSU was eager to help meet this lofty goal.

Most donors were repeat donors, who came in regularly to give blood. New donors also came in abundance, eager to contribute what they could. Student volunteers helped man the canteen and escort positions, and stickers reading “Be nice to me; I gave blood today” became the newest fashion on campus.

Clearly, PSU has a generous student body, and the staff doesn’t shirk responsibility, either. A few instructors made announcements in their classes to encourage students to donate, while others proudly wore a red bandage on their elbow as they taught. It was a week of students, staff and passers-by proudly giving what they could for those in need.

Of course, it is no surprise that a college drive would be so successful. People between the ages of 16 and 25 make up the largest group of donors, comprising approximately one-quarter of the entire pool. People are also more likely to donate if the donation is brought to their place of work or education than if they are asked to go somewhere on their own specifically to donate. And many instructors and employers are lenient with missed time if a student or employee is late because of a blood donation.

The success of the PSU blood drives may also be due, in part, to the health-conscious nature of the average PSU student. There are strict health regulations for individuals wishing to donate blood; in the United States, only approximately 38 percent of the population is able to give blood. Potential donors must fall within a certain body mass index, as determined by weight and height. Travel and certain sexual practices can limit an individual’s capacity for donation. Some medications and long-term illnesses might cause a donor to be deferred, and the use of needles for non-medical purposes—such as for a tattoo or recreational drug use—might mean a potential donor is ineligible for a year, or even for life. Even dietary choices may cause limitations to one’s eligibility to donate; the iron count must be above a certain level in the blood before it can be accepted.

PSU students, for all their tattoos, vegan fare, enthusiasm for travel and indulgence in recreational behaviors suited to grunge musicians, are still conscientious enough about their health and activities to donate. It’s a beautiful thing, and it may be part of what has led to the expansion of the drive. It is truly fantastic.

The generous nature of PSU’s students is an asset to the community, as evidenced by the growth of the blood drives here. People need blood every two seconds in the United States; thanks to PSU and other donors, it looks like they just might get it. ?