Wednesday, Nov. 3, was the first of the two-day community blood drive, held by Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. in front of the Willie A. Tempton Sr. Memorial Student Center.
The possibility of saving three lives per donation was the theme used to encourage the campus to give blood.
Individuals with sickle cell anemia, cancer, or even premature babies are possibly recipients of the donated blood.
Junior nursing major Meia Jones of the Prairie View Student Nursing Association said, “The Blood Center is allowing us to give students community service for donating blood.”
“Before giving blood there is a checklist of requirements that donors must meet including a high iron level. You must also drink lots of water and eat dry cereal,” said Jones.
Some reasons a donor may not be able to give blood are low hemoglobin, high blood pressure, and use of some medications may cause deferral.
The Blood Center’s Commit for Life promotion will continue through the month of November, giving members who donate or attempt to donate a chance to win one of four pairs of Continental Airlines tickets.
Many patients, including the ones of rare blood types, require specifically matched blood samples, which is the standard procedure practiced among donors of the same ethnicity.
The two Commit for Life members who donate or attempt to in those months will be selected to each win a pair of tickets to visit international destinations.