Spring Break
Seventh blood drive most successful of the semester so far
Lidia Ryan
Issue date: 3/30/09 Section: News
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According to Anne McManus, a 6th-semester mechanical engineering major and blood drive coordinator, this drive had the most appointments per hour than any of the previous blood drives this semester.
According to Anthony Cavallaro, president of the UConn Red Cross Club, the one-day blood drive brought in 122 appointments and 99 units of blood, which exceeds the club's original goal of 80 units.
Ninety-nine units is "enough to potentially save 297 lives," he said.
The success of the blood drive signals spring is on its way. As the weather warms up, more people are able to give blood because cold season is over. McManus said that one of the reasons there were more donors this time is because they had to turn away many sick people during previous blood drives.
Karli Deakin, an 8th-semester management major, is a frequent donor, who was able to give blood for the first time this semester on Wednesday. Deakin had been sick during the previous blood drives.
Cavallaro said that the drive's success can be attributed to the volunteers from the Army ROTC program, who worked efficiently to prevent any backups, and the donors themselves who came prepared. Because of their preparation, Cavallaro said, the club barely turned anyone away.
Deakin said she participates in many of the blood drives because she has a common blood type. But Deakin is also inspired by stories of people whose lives were saved by blood donations.
She said she donated in Wednesday's drive because she recently watched an episode of "Extreme Home Makeover" about someone who would have died had it not been for a blood transfusion.
"It's causes like that that make me want to do it," she said.
Deakin said she thinks the Red Cross Club does a good job of organizing the blood drives, but they should publicize them better. She said that more people might give blood if they heard more about the drives.
"A lot of people who can give blood don't," Deakin said.
McManus said the club is working on better advertising for future drives. The way they advertise now is by setting up tables outside of dining halls.
McManus said, "For future drives, we are looking to hang up more posters and flyers so there will be more awareness of the drives on campus."
The next blood drive will be held sometime in April.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Kathy Zibell
posted 3/30/09 @ 7:04 PM EST
Wow - what a great story. I work with a woman whose 5 year old son has had close to 50 transfusions (platelet and whole blood) since last July when he was diagnosed with cancer. (Continued…)
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