Localblood bank still short blood
By Ya-Ning KuoContributor
The gift of life is in short supply in San Diego County. OnTuesday, the San Diego Blood Bank set up a blood drive in AztecCenter in hopes to rebuild the county’s blood supply.
The blood drive on-campus was a major feat toward reaching SanDiego’s goal, which requires 400 pints of blood a day. Marno Miller,donor recruitment associate at the S.D. Blood Bank, said the eventwas successful.
About 42 people donated their blood during the blood drive.
Although this blood drive turned out to be much more successfulthan previous blood drives, Miller said the blood bank still needsmore donations.
“The supply does not meet the demand,” Miller said.
Miller said this year’s blood shortage came earlier than usualbecause Amber Arban, a 12-year-old girl who had a heart disease, usedmore than 900 units of blood over the summer.
“That pretty much drained most of (the) blood in our bank,” Millersaid. “Unfortunately, she still passed away.”
Amber died Sept. 8 after a lung infection that resulted fromopen-heart surgery a month earlier.
Miller said some surgeries need to be postponed because there isnot enough blood. She urged San Diego State University students to beaware of the blood shortage and to donate their blood if they arehealthy and active.
“In SDSU, we are not getting as much as blood as we should,”Miller said.
S.D. Blood Bank Manager of Recruitment Becky Elliot said in everycollege there is always a student in need of blood.
“There can be a person sitting next to you in your class whoreceives a blood transfusion regularly,” Elliot said. “This keepstheir normal life.”
Businesssenior Caroline Rios donated her blood at the drive. She said she didit because it’s a good cause.
“There (are) a lot of people out there (who) need blood,” Riossaid. “If there is one of my relatives who needs blood, I would loveto have other people donate blood.”
Another donor, recreation senior Tim Louie, said his brother usedto receive regular blood transfusions.
“My brother has leukemia, so I know what it is like when you havea family member who needs blood,” Louie said.
Miller said some people don’t realize how important it is todonate blood. She said only 5 percent of the eligible populationdonates blood.
“During the Gulf War, people were lining out side of the (blood)bank,” Miller said. “But, they do not realize that blood is needed ona daily basis.”
She said another reason for the lack of blood is that some peopleare afraid of needles.
“The needle is only inside you for about five to seven minutes,”Miller said.
Prior to donating blood, potential donors are provided generalinformation about the procedure and nurses conduct medicalexaminations.
Miller said the procedure takes about 45 minutes.
Psychology junior Rachel Boxleitner said it is not that bad.
“It is very simple,” Boxleitner said. “And the nurses are verynice.”
Undeclared freshman Rob Whiteside was a first-time donor.
“I was very nervous, but it went well,” Whiteside said. “I feeltotally good.”
Louie said donating blood will does not take much time and bloodcan be regenerated.
“Just donate blood,” Boxleitner said. “It is great.”
Rios said she agrees.
“You feel good about yourself when you help other people,” Riossaid.
The next SDSU Blood Drive will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov.2 at Casa Real, located in upper Aztec Center.
