The Community Blood center has to collect 350 pints of blood a day to supply the 24 hospitals they serve with the blood they need.
In order to collect that amount of blood the CBC travels across 15 counties setting up sites at various locations for people to donate at. On May 25, the CBC set up a site in the Sinclair Community College Library.
“We come to Sinclair because there are so many students,” said CBC employee Sherry Kerns. “We always get a lot of first time donors.”
Speech Pathology major Whitney Grant participated in the blood drive at Sinclair and said she donates approximately three times a year because she wants to those in need.
“It’s a pleasant experience,” Grant said. “They make you feel very appreciated and it’s not painful at all.”
Kerns said the donation process generally takes about 30 minutes per student and consists of four steps: registration, screening, donation and canteen. Potential donors have to answer a 50 question feedback form regarding what medications they take, what diseases they have and where they have previously donated blood. If the potential donor passes the screening they are allowed to donate and upon completion, they are given a t-shirt, cookies and juice.
“We always offer our donors cookies and juice because after you donate your blood usually sugar drops,” Kerns said.
Music Education major Matt Josselyn said he has been donating regularly for three years and said the CBC made it more convenient for him on May 25 by coming to Sinclair.
“If they’re here and I have free time, I try to donate,” Josselyn said.
David Kelly, account rep for the CBC, said he was unsure of how many students participated in the blood drive, but said the CBC will be returning to the college to make it more convenient for students to donate.
“A lot of people will donate when it’s convenient for them,” Kelly said. “We do everything we can to make it convenient.”
Slideshow: Community Blood Center Blood Drive | Feb. 25, 2010