The Red Cross is hosting a blood drive Wednesday Sep. 6 and Thursday Sep. 7 in the MUB ballroom from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This is one of the two blood drives hosted by Michigan Tech annually, and is the only one taking place this autumn.
According to the Red Cross website, “Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. Blood is essential to help patients survive surgeries, cancer treatment, chronic illnesses, and traumatic injuries.” Donations of all blood types are incredibly useful for whole blood donation, and donors with O positive or O negative blood types are specifically encouraged.
There is no substitute for human blood donation. Participants are encouraged to be well hydrated and to eat a healthy meal two to three hours before donating blood. Light refreshments will be provided after making a donation. The overall process should take about an hour for whole blood donation, with the donation itself taking around 8 to 10 minutes.
Another option for the upcoming blood drive is Power Red donation. This process uses a machine to separate red blood cells from blood and then returns platelets and plasma. This process takes closer to 1.5 hours and safely donates the equivalent of two units of red blood cells. Donors with types O positive, O negative, A negative, and B negative are most strongly encouraged for Power Red donation. You are encouraged to make an appointment prior to donating; to schedule an appointment call 1-800-733-2767 or visit redcrossblood.org.
