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Looking for donors: Annual blood drive to be held Tuesday
Paige Martin, then a junior, was one of 14 Uni donors who participated in last year's blood drive. This year's drive will take place Tuesday morning. Anyone 16 or older and weighing at least 110 pounds is eligible to donate one unit of blood — about one pint. (Gargoyle photo by Michelle Gao) (click to enlarge)
By Dana Al-Qadi
Gargoyle senior editor
Posted Sunday, April 29, 2007, The OG, news
ON TUESDAY MORNING, the Community Blood Services of Illinois will hold a blood drive in front of Uni from 8 to noon.
The drive has long been seen as an important Uni activity and a way for students, faculty, and staff to get involved with their community. Student Council sponsors the annual event.
Last year 14 Uni donors participated in the drive — double the number who participated the previous year.
Students who are below the age of 16 are not eligible for donation. Those who are 16 or 17 are required to fill out a parental consent form prior to donation, which can be found at school or downloaded from the CBSI site.
Besides an age requirement, there is also a weight requirement. Students must weigh more than 110 pounds. According to Athletic Director Sally Walker, athletes currently involved in a sport are not encouraged to participate.
Donors are asked to eat a balanced meal about four hours prior to donation and avoid caffeine. CBSI also recommends remaining hydrated by drinking lots of water both before and after donating.
According to CBSI, the donation process takes about 45 minutes, with only 10 minutes required for the actual blood drawing. The remaining time will be used for a health history screening, mini-physical, and to supply donors with snacks after donating.
The entire process consists of four steps:
• completion of health history questionnaire and screening interview;
• brief physical examination (blood pressure, pulse, temperature) and test for anemia;
• drawing of one unit (about one pint) of blood from donor if medical requirements are met;
• serving of refreshments while donor remains seated for 10 minutes.
The CBSI bloodmobile will be parked in the yellow zone on the west side of Uni's main building.
RELATED
— Gargoyle coverage (2006): Doing their part: Photos from Uni's blood drive
— Gargoyle coverage (2006): Blood drive to be held Wednesday
— External link: Community Blood Services of Illinois
