Blood drive hits record high
by NIC SRIDEJ
Issue date: 2/8/10 Section: News
On Jan. 28, Piedmont students donated a record 61 units of blood to the American Red Cross.
The original goal was 50 units, but many willing students helped surpass it. Eighty people came to donate, but due to some health complications such as low iron levels, some weren't allowed to.
Piedmont College has been in association with the American Red Cross for the past four years.
Blood drives have been held at Piedmont at least twice a year. This year, three more blood drives will be held.
The American Red Cross has made donating blood an easy process.
Jordan Yanagiya, a first- time blood donor, says even though he was nervous, the American Red Cross workers cracked jokes to help him relax while maintaining a professional approach.
As a first time donor, Yanagiya had to go through a preliminary process to assure that he was in the proper health to give blood.
First time donors have to meet certain requirements before they're allowed to give, such as height and weight and sexual orientation.
After giving blood once, you aren't required to go through the same preliminary process.
"I spent more time waiting in line than I did giving blood. That only took like five minutes," Yanagiya says.
After you've donated, the American Red Cross gives you refreshments to help counter your drained physique.
Yanagiya says he'll definitely give blood again.
Student affairs encourages students to donate blood when The American Red Cross returns to Piedmont on March 25, from 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
The dates of blood drives are spaced so that donors can give blood more than once a semester.
Blood donated through Piedmont-hosted blood drives remains in the state of Georgia.
Even though Piedmont is a small college, a regional college of over 6,000 students has never given as many units as Piedmont's record breaking 61 units.
The blood drive was proof that even a small college can make a difference.
The original goal was 50 units, but many willing students helped surpass it. Eighty people came to donate, but due to some health complications such as low iron levels, some weren't allowed to.
Piedmont College has been in association with the American Red Cross for the past four years.
Blood drives have been held at Piedmont at least twice a year. This year, three more blood drives will be held.
The American Red Cross has made donating blood an easy process.
Jordan Yanagiya, a first- time blood donor, says even though he was nervous, the American Red Cross workers cracked jokes to help him relax while maintaining a professional approach.
As a first time donor, Yanagiya had to go through a preliminary process to assure that he was in the proper health to give blood.
First time donors have to meet certain requirements before they're allowed to give, such as height and weight and sexual orientation.
After giving blood once, you aren't required to go through the same preliminary process.
"I spent more time waiting in line than I did giving blood. That only took like five minutes," Yanagiya says.
After you've donated, the American Red Cross gives you refreshments to help counter your drained physique.
Yanagiya says he'll definitely give blood again.
Student affairs encourages students to donate blood when The American Red Cross returns to Piedmont on March 25, from 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
The dates of blood drives are spaced so that donors can give blood more than once a semester.
Blood donated through Piedmont-hosted blood drives remains in the state of Georgia.
Even though Piedmont is a small college, a regional college of over 6,000 students has never given as many units as Piedmont's record breaking 61 units.
The blood drive was proof that even a small college can make a difference.
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