Saving Lives Through Blood Donations

For every pint of blood donated, three lives are potentially saved.

To help meet its constant need for the renewable live-saver, the Red Cross Blood Mobile was stationed in Hadley Village Wednesday to collect blood from the student turnout. The drive is one of 14 scheduled to occur semester.

"We come to UB about two or three times a month," said Kari Guagenti, account manager of the Red Cross blood drive. "We have been really successful here in UB with more participants and it keeps expanding every time."

The convenience of the Red Cross Mobile attracts more students to donate blood on campus. According to Kelly McLaughlin, a senior majoring in chemical engineering, she saw the Blood Mobile and just decided to come in for her third donation.

"I was actually nervous my first time because I wasn't sure how my body would react," said McLaughlin. "But now I already know that it helps people and that there are people who wouldn't be around if blood wasn't donated."

"When someone donates a pint of blood it can save three lives because it is separated into three components: the plasma, the platelets and red cells," said Gaugenti. "Each component has the ability to help different patients."

For many, donating blood can be a terrifying first time experience, but to Alain Lamarque, a senior communication major, it has not been terrifying at all. He noted that it is only his first time because he finally realized the importance of donating blood.

"Needles don't bother me at all and I definitely don't think it is a waste of time," said Lamarque. "I just feel it is a good thing to do."

Although for many it may be the first time, others constantly donate when the chance comes. Joseph Bosakowski, a senior business major, recently donated for the sixth time.

"I don't know what others think, I just know how I feel about it," said Bosakowski. "It just makes me feel good knowing I contribute."

Other experienced donors include the Red Cross staff members, who frequently donate blood in addition to their humanitarian jobs. Mary Wyzykowski, a Red Cross donor specialist, started as a donor and now is an employee.

"I donate blood every few months and there are several employees who donate every 56 days," said Wyzykowski. "I really enjoy the atmosphere and getting to be around people during the week."

The next Red Cross blood drive will be from 3 to 8 p.m. on Monday, April 22, in Goodyear Hall.

"Think of [donating as] if a family member or someone close to them needed blood and that they could be saving someone dear to them," suggested Guagenti.

The Red Cross invites any individual, organization or department to cooperate in sponsoring a blood drive at UB. Mike Klingensmith, a senior majoring in economics, coordinated Wednesday's blood drive with the Red Cross to set up the location, date and awareness.

"I really wanted to help out and I thought there was a need for it, in the sense of giving back," said Klingensmith. "I wanted to look back knowing I coordinated something I can be proud of."

Before the donation can be taken, the volunteer is asked his or her past and present health status and lifestyle. Donors must undergo a mini-physical examination, during which their temperature, blood pressure and pulse are taken, and must also give a drop of blood to ensure that enough blood cells are contained to safely donate.

Health is the most important requirement to donate blood - each donation is tested for syphilis, HIV, hepatitis and other factors in a panel of 12 laboratory tests. All the information taken during the interview and examination, as well as the results, remains confidential.

If the results reveal health problems, the donor will be notified immediately and the blood destroyed. The donor is entered into a database and prevented from donating blood in the future.

Additional restrictions that can restrict a person from donating include: pregnancy, weight under 110 pounds, having piercings or tattoos less than a year old, use of IV drugs not prescribed by a physician and having donated blood in the last 56 days.

According to Gaugenti, the donations supply an adequate amount of blood to allow the local hospitals to cope with accidents, illness and surgeries.

"The need for blood never stops, because it has a perishable shelf life, almost like milk," said Gaugenti. "We try and maintain a three day supply of blood. However, often we are below that."