Red Cross sets higher goal for blood donation

MHCC Student Activities Board (SAB) will run a Red Cross Blood Drive from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday (Jan. 24 and 25) in the College Center and has set a goal to collect 132 units of blood.

Teresa Vega, SAB’s Wellness Program Coordinator, said the goal was set high this term because of the success from last term’s drive. One unit of blood is about one pint.

The blood drive occurs three times a year for the fall, winter and spring terms. Last term ASG ran the drive Oct. 19 and 20 and the Red Cross set a goal for 77 units of blood over both days. The drive attracted 107 donors during the two days but 14 were deferred due to eligibility issues. They collected 87 pints of blood, exceeding their goal by 10 pints.

Vega encourages students to participate either by donating blood or volunteering at the blood drive.

“I would like to see more students on campus be involved with ASG activities and important events such as the blood drive,” said Vega.

She also added that the top reason prospective donors get deferred are because of iron deficiency. She encourages students to eat a full, healthy meal before giving blood.

People may schedule an appointment to donate at www.givelife.org with the sponsor code (mhcc) or they can sign up at the SAB office in the College Center or email Vega. Walk-ins on the day of are also welcome, but there is no guarantee if appointments are filled up.

There are three types of volunteers: registration, escort and canteen. A registration volunteer greets donors, checks them in, assists walk-ins and helps with scheduling. An escort donor walks around campus to recruit donors on the day of the drive. A canteen volunteer serves drinks and snacks after donors have given blood and chats with them for a few minutes to make sure they are fine before leaving.

People interested in donating or volunteering at the blood drive may contact Vega for more information. Vega’s email is [email protected] and her office phone number is 503-491-7642. People may also visit her office in the SAB offices in the College Center.

Dogs can donate, too

Although the Red Cross Blood Donation is collecting blood for humans, canines can also donate blood at designated veterinary clinics as well. DoveLewis in Northwest Portland and Veterinary Center of America – Northwest Veterinary Specialists (VCA-NWVS) in Clackamas run blood banks for dogs. Each location has its own requirements but both only take donations from dogs since cats require sedation and special care, so cats are limited to employee pets under proper care.

According to VCA, a unit of blood can help up to four animals. Volunteered pets also receive a full physical exam among other veterinary care and treats and toys. However, DoveLewis states that it cannot be the pet’s regular service provider.

A full list of requirements and complete information can be found at vcaspecialtyvets.com and dovelewis.org.

Blood type superstitions

Eastern Asian countries, notably Japan and South Korea, have blood-type superstitions similar to astrological signs in America. Just about everyone in Japan knows their blood type since it is checked at birth. Blood-type horoscopes are often found in women’s magazines for relationship, job, and other compatibilities and many believe it to be the basis of different personalities.

Last July, Ryu Matsumoto, a Japanese politician, resigned after a problem caused by him making offensive remarks about the tsunami and earthquake victims. He blamed his actions on his blood type, which is B, to which he said that it makes him “irritable, impetuous and my intentions don’t always come across,” at a press conference for his resignation.

Advocate Staff