By Theresa Do
Western Sun staff writer
“The need is constant. The gratification is instant. Give blood.” With these words in mind, students of Golden West College entered the Rustler Hangout on March 20-22 to participate in Red Cross Donor Days and donate their blood. These student donors help to make up the small number of Americans that give blood annually, currently only three out of every 100 people.
The entire donation process takes only about 45 minutes in total which includes registration, medical history, a mini-physical, and the actual donation of the blood.
In charge of the event was the Red Cross Team Supervisor Anne O’Grady, who is also a registered nurse, O’Grady said, “Most people feel great about donating blood and the students are very good at volunteering to be donors.” O’Grady’s statement proved correct, as a large number of Golden West students came out to donate at the Red Cross mobile blood drive.
Many of the GWC students that donated were quick to agree that they decided to give their blood to the Red Cross because they wanted to help people who needed it. The blood donated by one person alone can help save three lives, and donors contributed to the 38,000 blood donations needed every day.
With 31 percent of Red Cross donations coming from first time donors, it was no surprise that many students that participated were first time donors as well. The doctors and staff of the Red Cross not only draw the blood, but also are on hand to calm down any nervous donors.
The students at GWC are a part of the 80 percent of Americans that donate their blood at the Red Cross mobile blood drives each year, helping to instantly save hundreds of lives.
