Order of Omega, a Greek honor society, is working together with the American Red Cross to host a blood drive on Tuesday, Feb. 11, and Wednesday, Feb. 12, in the MUB Ballroom from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Students and donors are encouraged to make an appointment beforehand, but walk-ins are also welcome. College students are great candidates for saving lives through blood donation. Analise Walsh, the president of Order of Omega and fourth year Medical Laboratory Science student, said that “college students are such a large demographic when finding potential donors because their campuses are very diverse… [meaning] the more blood types… [and] the more lives we’re saving.”
In the United States, someone will need blood products about every two seconds. Blood products are given during surgery to treat massive blood loss, cancer, and more. Blood for these components cannot be made in a laboratory, meaning they must come from a human donor. Blood donation levels have been at an “all-time low for the last 20 years,” according to the American Red Cross. Walsh said, “without generous donors like you, our hospitals wouldn’t be able to provide lifesaving care.”
There are two types of blood donation available during the blood drive. One type, known as whole blood donation, simply takes a pint (500 mL) of the donor’s blood. To be eligible for whole blood donation, you must weigh 110 lbs, be in good health, and feel well on the day of donation. The other type is Power Red, which takes two units of red blood cells and returns plasma and platelets to the donor. Walsh said, “[Power Red donation] is a great way to save more lives!” To be eligible for Power Red, male donors must be 17 years old, 5’1”, and at least 130 lbs. Female donors must be 19 years old, 5’3”, and at least 150 lbs.
Before donation, you must complete a health screening and read the pre-donation materials once you arrive. You will also have your hemoglobin level tested. If everything is in order, you will be ready to donate and save lives!
If you want your appointment to go quicker once you get there, you can complete your health screening and read the pre-donation materials prior to your appointment time. This is known as the RapidPass. This is available either on the American Red Cross website or the Blood Donor app, and takes as little as 10 to 15 minutes to complete. Have the receipt present when you arrive for your appointment, allowing you to skip some of the line!
Get your friends together, see who can donate the fastest, and track how many bags you’ve donated on the Blood Donor app. You can help save up to three lives with one donation, in as little as one hour. Book your appointment now at
