Lifeline Blood Services is helping to show UTM students that they have the power to help save lives by giving blood.
Twice a semester, Lifeline comes to campus and sets up a blood drive in the University Center Hallway. Blood donation is one of the simplest acts that someone can do in minutes that will save someone’s life. According to Lifeline’s website (lifelinebloodserv.org), it’s easy to get involved in the lifesaving process.
“Giving blood is safe and simple,” the site says. “There is no risk of contracting AIDS or any other disease by giving blood. Sterile needles and blood bags are used once and then discarded.”
Danielle Fabianich, UTM’s Assistant Athletics Director, is a supporter of the blood donation initiatives.
“Donating blood is one of the most selfless acts a person can perform,” said Fabianich. “Blood is needed every single day to help save lives. Blood has a very limited shelf life, so the blood banks have to be continually stocked.”
Fabianich said that she herself was once a recipient of life-saving platelets and packed cells about 19 years ago.
“I cannot imagine having someone I love in an ER and finding out that they won’t make it because there isn’t enough blood,” Fabianich said.
| Year | Donors | Units |
| 2015 | 295 | 200 |
| 2014 | 301 | 221 |
| 2013 | N/A | 212 |
| 2012 | N/A | 169 |
In recent years, the campus blood drive has seen a decrease in participation among students. Lifeblood’s site says that the program requires at least 500 donors per week in order to function at optimum capacity. The above table shows the results of the fall blood drives in the last few years. Despite the decrease in participation from last year, however, Lifeline said that they considered this year’s drive to be an overall success.
Lifeline’s donation guidelines require that a prospective donor must weigh at least 110 pounds and be at least 17 years of age. In addition, the donor’s blood pressure and temperature is checked to ensure safety. The human body is capable of replacing the amount of blood donated within 48 hours, and the red blood cells lost in the process are usually replenished within approximately eight weeks. The entire process takes about 30 to 45 minutes, and can end up saving someone’s life.
The next blood drive on campus is scheduled for January 27-28 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit www.lifelinebloodserv.org.
