Ever wonder what it feels like to save a life? You’ll have four chances this academic year.
The first of four university-wide blood drives of the academic year will be held Tuesday, Sept. 13, at eight different locations throughout the university and at a variety of times to accommodate busy schedules.
All students, faculty and staff are encouraged to participate in this effort to replenish the region’s blood supply.
“In the past four years, the Washington University community has donated enough blood to save nearly 20,000 lives,” says Stephanie N. Kurtzman, director of the Community Service Office and associate director of the Gephardt Institute for Public Service.
“The need for blood donations is constant, as an estimated 1 in 3 people will need a transfusion during their lifetime,” Kurtzman says. “We are grateful to our consistent donors and volunteers, and encourage first-time donors to give it a try or to volunteer if they know they are not eligible to donate.”
According to the American Red Cross, a blood transfusion is needed about every two seconds in the United States. And the demand continues to outpace the supply, in part because of today’s lifesaving medical techniques, which require more blood transfusions.
Because blood is separated into three components — red blood cells, platelets and plasma — just one blood donation can help save up to three lives.
Anyone who donated blood on or before July 19 is eligible to donate again Sept. 13.
Signing up for an appointment is strongly encouraged and speeds up the donation process.
The Sept. 13 blood drive locations and times are:
- Danforth University Center, Room 276: 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
- Danforth University Center, Room 234: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Medical School, Olin Gym in Olin Residence Hall: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Simon Hall Undergraduate Lounge: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Lopata Hall Gallery: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Ursa’s Fireside, South 40: 3-9 p.m.
- Village House Dining Room: 3-9 p.m.
- West Campus, Conference Room A/B: 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
To schedule an appointment, to volunteer at a blood drive or for more information, visit blooddrive.wustl.edu.
WUSTL’s Community Service Office, in collaboration with the American Red Cross and the Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center, sponsor the blood drives.
Future blood drives this academic year are scheduled for Nov. 9, 2011; Jan. 31, 2012; and April 4, 2012.