Student donations helps out American Cross blood drive
Brittany Ballantyne
Equinox Staff
All it takes is about a 10-minute wait, a few pumps here and there, and one can save a life. Blood donors entered the Mabel Brown Room on Monday, Feb. 13 for the American Red Cross Blood drive to do just that.
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Workers and volunteers spoke of how pleased they were with the turn out. “When we see those chairs full and people still coming that’s an excellent turnout,” Gayle McCarthy, an American Red Cross worker, said.
Sophomore Jenn Zinka who worked the registration table, agreed. “Definitely from what I’ve seen and what I’ve heard, it was a really good turn out,” she said.
McCarthy revealed what her job at blood drives entails. “Our job mainly is to run the drive,” she said, adding that she must “keep everything running smoothly.”
This includes helping the staff with any problems they may encounter, assisting donors, and answering questions.
McCarthy said the workers “try to help anywhere [they] can.”
Setting up takes about an hour, according to McCarthy. Many steps are involved including placing beds, tables, and chairs along with various equipment and machinery where workers are responsible for quality control.
Junior Kelsey Donahue, who was a donor at the drive, believed the drive made a significant impact.
“I think it definitely does. I don’t think that they would put all this much work into it and work so hard to get people to come and do it if it wasn’t going to be helping people in the long run,” Donahue said.
Donahue had donated blood multiple times for previous drives. “I like knowing that I can help somebody,” she said.
At first, Donahue “was horrified” to get her blood taken in fear that it would be painful and unpleasant.
Donahue explained that her cousin at eight-years-old had needed a blood transfusion and he had gotten one through the Red Cross.
“I think that everyone should try it out once, it seems scary at first but definitely don’t be afraid. It’s totally worth it if you know that you can help somebody,” Donahue said.
Zinka expressed that she is fearful of getting blood taken. “It’s something I’d like to do but I gotta get the courage,” Zinka said.
Janet Ostrom, also of the American Red Cross, said, “It’s quite a painless operation, it’s not a horror story like sometimes you hear. It’s a very simple procedure.”
“If you can stand to get a shot, you can do this,” Ostrom added.
“I think the most frustrating part of the system for most donors is having to wait and a lot of that depends on the response that we get and the longer the wait means we’re getting a greater response which is excellent,” McCarthy said.
In addition, McCarthy said, “And we do try to get people through as quickly as possible, but we do have to follow specific procedures and that takes time” about the possible hassles of blood drives.
McCarthy explained how the blood can be used in various transfusions. She said that the donated blood can go to “any accident victim, any person in the hospital having surgery potentially may need blood, and our job is to make sure there is the safest blood possible for them to have access to when they need it.”
When asked if she donated blood, McCarthy said, “I’m working on my fourth gallon. I’ve been donating since the early ‘80s.”
McCarthy worked in a hospital previously and said, “Being a nurse and working with [blood] all the time, you definitely see the need for it and I knew I could [donate].”
Ostrom said she personally knew of a cancer victim as well as people who have had surgeries that needed blood transfusions. It’s no surprise that patients all over benefit from these blood drives, but donors also get something aside from freebies at these drives.
“They have the feeling that they’ve done something to save a life,” Ostrom said.
McCarthy added to that and said donors can feel “a sense of giving.”
“We have a lot of giveaways all the time too, some people will come in for the giveaways and the food,” McCarthy said with a laugh.
“But for the majority of people I think it’s just because it’s is a sense of helping,” she said.
Ostrom said, “They [donors] also look at it that if they ever need or anybody in their family needs it, you know, it makes sure there’s a supply there.”
The Red Cross gets sponsorships and help from various other organizations.
“There’s too many to even name,” Ostrom said.
Ostrom and McCarthy listed hospitals, churches, business, and fraternal organizations in regards to those who help keep the drives going.
Without these sponsorships, doctors and volunteers like Zinka, these drives would not function successfully.
Zinka said that as soon as she heard about the drive, she “jumped at the chance,” to help volunteer.
“You know that you’re gonna be helping someone by doing this and you know you may not benefit from getting blood taken out of your body, but it helps someone else,” Zinka said.
“Thank you guys [KSC] for having us here, it’s a great spot for a blood drive. Keep us coming back,” McCarthy said.
Sometimes, one doesn’t need a cape, uniform, or a badge to be a hero and make a difference. At the blood drive, you just need to roll up your sleeve.
Brittany Ballantyne can be reached at bballantyne@ksc.mailcruiser.com