January is National Blood Donor Month. Blood Donor Month has been observed for more than 40 years and was started by the American Red Cross to encourage blood donations in the winter months when it can be the hardest to organize blood drives because of weather. It is also hard to find healthy donors due to seasonal sickness. Sinclair students, staff and faculty were encouraged to donate last month by the Phi Theta Kappa Nu Pi chapter Honor Society.
Phi Theta Kappa holds four blood drives throughout the year to encourage students to donate blood. The most recent drive was last month. Phi Theta Kappa holds the blood drive as one of their fellowship projects according to Administrative Assistant Ebony Adomanis, but they also do it to help Sinclair give back to the community.
“We [Phi Theta Kappa] hope to encourage our members, fellow students, and Sinclair employees to give back to our community in one of the greatest ways possible: by saving lives,” Phi Theta Kappa President Tyler McDonough said.
Phi Theta Kappa is founded on service, leadership and scholarship and part of upholding those standards is constantly being connected to the community. Holding blood drives, the group is able to save the lives of sick people in the Dayton area.
“Blood drives are just one of the ways in which we strive to consistently engage with and serve our community,” Phi Theta Kappa Publicity Director Andrea Mesaroch said.
McDonough donated last month and has promised to donate as long as he can after he learned that his last donation helped save the life of a patient and that his blood type, O-, can be used to help anyone.
“I was amazed to learn that something my body naturally produces could save the life of a trauma patient when every moment is crucial or even the life of a premature infant with an underdeveloped immune system,” McDonough said.
The honor society holds four blood drives throughout the year. Their next blood drive will be February 15 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Anyone can volunteer to help at the blood drive and anyone who meets the requirements may donate. To donate blood you must be in good health, at least 17 years of age and weigh at least 110 pounds. Those interested in donating are encouraged to sign up on donortime.org for blood drives at Sinclair Community College—Dayton Library. The code for Sinclair’s blood drives is 077. Donating blood, you can save up to three lives.
Celia Lavoie
Reporter