Students and faculty can line up next week to donate blood through the Red Cross blood drive. According to Jan Hale, external communications manager for the Red Cross, the drive held at K-State is going to be one of the largest in the state.
“This is the largest blood drive that the the Red Cross holds in Kansas,” Hale said. “We’re trying to collect 700 pints of blood over four days. It is taking a lot of different groups at K-State to help us pull it off.”
The blood collected at this donation will contribute to medical needs such as helping mothers after complications during childbirth, trauma victims and surgeries.
“We never know what the need is, but we do know that every two seconds, someone needs blood,” Hale said.
The first drive at K-State happened a few years ago, and since then the Red Cross and K-State have partnered to save lives, according to Hale.
“K-State’s always been very supportive of the Red Cross, and it’s just one way to really show the Wildcats giving spirit and what the students want to do to be contributing members of their community.”
For the person that might be scared of needles, Hale said she wants them to remember that donating could save someones life and they are not alone.
“I always like to remind people that most of us that donate don’t wake up in the morning and say, ‘Oh, golly-gee, yippee, I get to have a needle stuck in my arm,'” Hale said. “It’s like a pinch in your arm, but you’re giving someone something that no one else can give them. It is the ultimate paying it forward because you know you’ll probably never meet the person who’s receiving your donation.”
Hale advises that those interested in donating blood should start drink lots of water and a good meal for lunch and breakfast.
The drive will be held Sept. 28 through Oct. 2. Locations of the blood drive on-campus are as follows:
- Monday through Thursday, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.: K-State Student Union Ballroom, 2nd floor
- Monday through Wednesday, from 2-8 p.m.: Putnam Hall Lobby.
- Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.: K-State Student Union Ballroom, second floor
“We know we can count on K-State, we know we can count on those Wildcats to come in and roll up their sleeves and help the Red Cross make sure that blood is available for patients,” Hale said.
