2008 Woodie Awards
Blood Assurance encourages students to donate
Katie Broderick
Issue date: 2/2/06 Section: Culture
- Page 1 of 1
As blood supplies typically run lower than average in the first few months of the year, students and faculty are encouraged to donate.
Emily Piersant, public relations representative for Blood Assurance, Inc., said the procedure is relatively simple.
"All you have to do is come in to the blood center with a picture ID and say you want to donate. They will ask a few questions about your general health, which will probably take about 20 minutes, and then you donate blood, which takes about five minutes."
Piersant said Blood Assurance is a regional blood center, meaning it has contracts with hospitals in over 30 hospitals in 31 area counties.
"If you were in an accident or something happened to you or your family, you'd be receiving blood from this community," Piersant said.
According to Piersant, blood can be donated every 56 days. Donors must weigh at least 110 pounds and be 17 years old.
Besides donating blood to the community, patients can also donate for themselves or for specific patients.
Piersant said not as many college students donate blood as the center would hope.
"[College students] usually have different schedules, or maybe they are from different areas and don't realize the need for blood in this community," she said.
Kimberly Mathis, a Manchester, Tenn., junior, said she donated blood twice in high school.
"It wasn't too bad … it didn't hurt that much," she said. "I felt really good about it."
Mathis said she thinks all college students should donate blood because it is a small thing people can do to help someone else.
"It would really suck for someone to get in a car accident or something and there be no blood to give them. They always need blood," she said.
Karen Dickerson, a Riverside, California, sophomore, said she is unable to donate blood because she has a blood disease, but she would if she could.
"I think it's important," she said. "I haven't heard anything about it on campus though."
Piersant said to donate blood at Blood Assurance, students and faculty can call for an appointment or just walk right in.
The nearest location is on Third Street across from the arena.
Emily Piersant, public relations representative for Blood Assurance, Inc., said the procedure is relatively simple.
"All you have to do is come in to the blood center with a picture ID and say you want to donate. They will ask a few questions about your general health, which will probably take about 20 minutes, and then you donate blood, which takes about five minutes."
Piersant said Blood Assurance is a regional blood center, meaning it has contracts with hospitals in over 30 hospitals in 31 area counties.
"If you were in an accident or something happened to you or your family, you'd be receiving blood from this community," Piersant said.
According to Piersant, blood can be donated every 56 days. Donors must weigh at least 110 pounds and be 17 years old.
Besides donating blood to the community, patients can also donate for themselves or for specific patients.
Piersant said not as many college students donate blood as the center would hope.
"[College students] usually have different schedules, or maybe they are from different areas and don't realize the need for blood in this community," she said.
Kimberly Mathis, a Manchester, Tenn., junior, said she donated blood twice in high school.
"It wasn't too bad … it didn't hurt that much," she said. "I felt really good about it."
Mathis said she thinks all college students should donate blood because it is a small thing people can do to help someone else.
"It would really suck for someone to get in a car accident or something and there be no blood to give them. They always need blood," she said.
Karen Dickerson, a Riverside, California, sophomore, said she is unable to donate blood because she has a blood disease, but she would if she could.
"I think it's important," she said. "I haven't heard anything about it on campus though."
Piersant said to donate blood at Blood Assurance, students and faculty can call for an appointment or just walk right in.
The nearest location is on Third Street across from the arena.
