Representatives of the United Blood Services and EPCC’s Institutional Effectiveness Committee have been visiting many VV classrooms, talking to students about donating.
“We need 170 units to supply blood to all the hospitals every day,” said Jesse Valdez, from UBS.
Last year EPCC donated 2,572 units of blood. According to Ron Stroud, Director of EPCC’s Institutional Effectiveness EPCC is the region’s major blood donor.
It has been teaming up with the UBS services since 1994 to tackle the blood shortage problem.
“So far we’ve collected 328 units of blood, and it’s been consistent,” said Valdez. “Donations increase each time we visit EPCC.”
Valdez said he believed that visiting the classes has encouraged those who might not have known about the drive or were unsure about donating, because they were able to ask questions and find out how their blood donations would be used.
“If it wasn’t for the presentation, it wouldn’t have been as successful,” said Valdez.
Recently, the state of Texas lifted the restriction of banning people from donating if they’d gotten a tattoo in the past year.
“If you’ve received a tattoo in the state of Texas, you can
now donate blood,” said Valdez.
This applies to piercings as well, he said, as long as they were done professionally.
Donors not only help hospitals, blood banks and soldiers, according to UBS donors, but also themselves.
The UBS tests cholesterol and iron levels, 21 different signs of blood associated with sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV, and determines the blood type.
They also check blood pressure and vital signs.
Neil Davis, a mass communications major, was in the process of donating when he said that he was doing it out of “sheer benevolence.”
This semester, UBS offered donors free pizza, Krispy Kreme pastries and Pepsi, which was donated by the Pepsi Company.
Other rewards included free T-shirts and passes to Ricky’s Paintball, which is worth $40.
According to UBS Technician Fernando Orozco, donating blood takes only about 20 to 25 minutes, depending on the person’s situation.
One pint is taken for every 25 pounds of body weight.
Donors can also donate regularly every two or four months when it comes to red blood cells.
This time frame results from the body taking a longer period to replenish red blood cells.
Donors must be at least 17 years old and weigh at least 110 pounds, for both males or females. If donors are sick or taking antibiotics, it’s not suggested they donate until they recover.
They should also bring a list of
medications during the screening and a valid state issued ID.
Valdez said that EPCC and UBS aspire to receive over 2,000 units of blood donations by the end of the year from all campuses.
Although UBS already visited the VV campus, they will continue to visit the other campuses until Oct. 18.
To request that a United Blood Services representative visit a class to answer students’ questions call 831-2893.
The UBS blood drive is scheduled to visit the Mission del Paso campus on Oct.10-11 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in room A103.
They will be at the Northwest campus on Oct. 16-17 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the lobby outside the Dean’s office. They will also be at the Rio Grande cafeteria on Oct. 17-18 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
