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Drew
Brashler Mesa Legend |
Donors heed call
to give pint of ‘life’
Dalton Walker
Mesa Legend
A single car accident could
require as much as 100 units of donated blood for the people to
survive, according to Cydne Fuller, Donor Relation Specialist.
Fuller represents the United Blood Services and was visiting MCC
with a handful of other people to collect blood donations on Feb
1.
“Save lives donate blood,” is the slogan of the United
Blood Services and according to Fuller, each donation does play
a huge role in saving lives. Each person can donate up to one unit,
said Fuller.
The white donating bus sat idling patiently waiting for donors beneath
the MCC clock tower. Fuller was standing outside the bus entrance
actively recruiting donors. Hundreds of students and faculty members
walked by the bus throughout the day possibly hearing Fuller’s
voice asking for donations.
In the first five hours, 16 units of blood were donated, according
to Fuller. Fuller thought 22 units from MCC was a realistic goal
for the day.
“All we need is a hand full of people and I didn’t think
that’s asking too much,” Fuller said.
Fuller said the UBS goal everyday is 700 donations. “I’ve
seen the shelves empty; there is no substitute for blood,”
Fuller said of the frustrations of donating. “Nobody realizes
that until a family member they love or someone they know needs
blood.”
The reasons of not enough donors, according to Fuller, can be a
number of things. She said the number one reason probably is the
fear of needles.
MCC student, Christina Cuccurello, also thinks needles are a key
factor in donating.
“I’m not really surprised by the numbers; everybody
goes for their own reasons and most are scared of needles,”
she said.
Cuccurello was turned away by the UBS because she had to wait one
more day to be eligible to donate.
The UBS does not allow people to donate blood more than once in
a 56 day period.
According to Cuccurello, it was her 55th day but she tries to donate
blood four times a year.
“I donate blood as much as I can,” Cuccurello said.
“I’ve known a lot of people who needed blood and two
of them were saved by donated blood.”
Donating blood is a free experience with no compensation, according
to Fuller.
People can donate up to three times a semester.
When a donator walks inside the bus a nurse is waiting to speak
with them. After the potential donar shows their ID, they sign a
sheet of paper stating that it’s okay to donate. Each donor
has to participate in a small interview, along with a mini physical
to talk about past behavior.
The interviewer asks about the possibility of having sexual transmitted
diseases or hepatitis. It takes two days to test the blood.
Donating blood is not a long process, according to Fuller.
“All it takes is five to 10 minutes of your time to donate
and 15 minutes to re-hydrate after; cookies and drinks are provided,”
said Fuller.
“Possible nausea and lightheadedness after donating might
come into affect, so that’s what the cookies are for.”
Stephen Tayler donates a blood quantum every eight weeks and when
the white bus parks near the clock tower on campus he is one of
the first people in line to give. Taylor has been donating for a
year as a student at MCC. He has A/B positive type blood, which
is one of the rarest types of blood.
“I’m fine!” said Tayler. “The bloods for
them and I know they need it.”
Fuller said the 700 donations the UBS seeks is the minimum and even
that is still not enough. “We don’t have enough donors,
the blood is always low. The shelf life is 42 days, and the blood
doesn’t come close to lasting that long.
“Each person can average six donations a year and each donor
can save up to three lives each time by donating,” added Fuller.
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