Phlebotomist Tabria Pickens inserts the needle into U of M student Alexander Suh’s arm.
University of Memphis Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity is holding its annual blood drive at the Rose Theater on March 2-3 in conjunction with Lifeblood, the area’s only fullservice, non-profit blood donation center.
Junior Mary Weiss relaxes as the Lifeblood phlebotomist inserts a needle into her arm. The blood drive is sponsored Lambda Chi Alpha and runs from March 2-3.
Lifeblood is the leading provider of blood and blood components to area hospitals, supplying more than 100,000 pints each year.
“When you donate one pint of blood, you save three people’s lives,†Caroline Cotten, medical assistant, said. “We take your one pint and split it up between whole blood, platelets and plasma.â€
The whole blood goes to people who need transfusions, while cancer patients receive the platelet and plasma blood, as they need the clotting factor.
The need for blood in the Mid-South is pressing, and constant donors provide 60 percent of the blood used by patients.
The remaining 40 percent must be purchased from other blood centers across the country, according to the Lifeblood website.
St. Jude performs about 800 blood transfusions in a typical month, according to their website.
A patient whose treatmentinvolves a bone marrow transplant will typically require 20 units of whole blood and 120 units of platelets during the course of their treatment.
“It saves lives,†former St. Jude employee Donna Mozer said. “I use to give platelets when I worked over there. People need blood. I am not a rich person, so this is the one thing I can do.â€
People can donate blood every 56 days, which is about every two months, the time it takes for the blood to be replenished.
With help from area businesses, houses of worship, government groups, civic organizations and concerned individuals, the Mid-South could achieve a self-sufficient blood supply for the region, Lifeblood’s website said.
Lambda Chi Alpha has sponsored the blood drive each semester over the past decade, according to vice president Bobby Prince.
“Last semester we had 241 donations,†Prince said. “We get good results, so we keep doing it every year.â€
Prince also donated blood later in the evening.
“I know that I have O positive blood and I can give to everyone,†he said. “Knowing that I can be there for someone without knowing them gives me a great feeling.â€
Those who would like to donate blood must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 115 pounds and be in good general health.
After giving blood, donors cannot do any heavy lifting.
They must leave the Band-Aid on for six hours and leave the co-band on for three hours.
Donors should try to take it easy all day and drink plenty of fluids. The body will replace the pint of blood that is donated within 24 hours.
Junior Mary Weiss, a common blood donor, was one of the many students who donated blood.
“It’s a good thing to do,†Weiss said. “My mom and sister are nurses, so I know from them that they need people to help donate.â€
