One Mississippi... two Mississippi...
In the time that just passed, someone needed the easiest, cheapest gift you could ever give.
It requires perhaps 30 to 45 minutes of your time. All you have to do is answer a few questions and chill in a reclined chair while listening to some music or catching up on some reading you've been putting off. Meanwhile, you're even relieving stress by squeezing a squishy ball. Oh, and you get free cookies and a Coke on your way out.
Sound too good to be true? The donation of blood is the gift of life. Every two seconds someone needs blood, and one single donation could help three to four different people, according to the American Red Cross.
"People need blood," second-year College student Taylor Hollis said. "People should do this as something to give back to society."
Hollis continued with a smile.
"And you get a free T-shirt," he said. "That's always a great incentive."
Each year, the President of the United States proclaims March as "Red Cross Month." The American Red Cross held several blood drives in February and again Wednesday and Thursday of this week.
The tradition of March as "Red Cross Month" dates all the way back to World War II in 1943, when President Roosevelt declared it as a special month in an effort to raise money for the war cause. Its success led the Red Cross to repeat the March drive during the remaining years of the war and then to make it the occasion of its annual membership and fundraising efforts in the post-war years, according to a Red Cross flier.
"We always do quite well here, especially if the weather is nice" said Gary Barnett, an American Red Cross donor service specialist. "More than enough people come out, and we usually don't have time to get everybody in actually."
Barnett, who has worked with the Red Cross for more than 15 years, said that when blood drives are held on a bus, about 30 to 40 people can be taken for donations in a day. Other drives, set up in bigger rooms, can sometimes receive up to 150 people in a day.
"It's difficult getting in sometimes," second-year graduate student Joe Pole said. "There's always a long wait to give blood, and I mean, that's great how popular something like this is among the students here. It really shows a lot about the kind of people here."
Blood drives held at the University are usually sponsored by service groups, fraternities and sororities.
The "Blood, Sweat and Cheers" campaign began with a blood drive held March 24 and is a joint project sponsored by Sigma Pi, Fiji and F.O.R.C.E. Another blood drive was held Thursday by the Inter-Sorority Council and Chi Omega sorority.
"I planned it just as a good way to get involved with the community," said third-year College student Chris Ference, a member of Sigma Pi. "I'll definitely be giving blood myself, and, from what it looks like, already I'm sure we'll get a great turnout today."
Ference was referring to the crowd of potential donors that had already gathered in the South Meeting Room of Newcomb Hall by 11:30 a.m. for the "Blood, Sweat, and Cheers" drive. The drive had only begun at 11 a.m.
For any first-time donors, the experience can be a bit nerve-racking and even scary. But for Pole, who already had given blood 11 times, the nerves are gone.
"I guess I probably was nervous the first time because it was such a new experience, but I've got it down now," Pole said. "I do it a couple times a year."
According to the American Red Cross, a person may donate blood every 56 days. This time allows for full recovery by the body, even though the body has replaced the fluid lost during donation within 24 hours. After eight weeks, iron stores and red blood cells are completely rebuilt as well.
The procedure for donating blood begins with an interview and simple blood test to make sure the potential donor is eligible and able to give blood. A person must be at least 17 years old and weigh 110 pounds and meet several other requirements to ensure the overall health and quality of the blood.
"We try our best to make it as comfortable and painless an experience as possible," American Red Cross Phlebotomist Laura Ganz said.
After being interviewed and tested, the donors are moved to a bed where they choose to have blood taken from either the right or left arm. An IV is inserted into a vein by one of the technicians, and the process -- which usually takes between 10 and 15 minutes to give a pint of blood -- begins.
The arm is then bandaged to stop any bleeding and prevent bruising. Before donors leave, workers make sure that they are feeling well by checking for signs of nausea and faintness, and then give donors something to replenish their body such as cookies or crackers and a Coke or glass of juice.
"Taking 30 to 45 minutes of your time is not that bad at all," second-year College student Ashley Wilkes said. "This little bit of time in your day is well worth it for the benefits others receive from such a simple act. I just think it's necessary to do."
To learn more about the American Red Cross, visit to the Red Cross national Web site at www.redcross.org. The local Red Cross Central Virginia chapter can be contacted at 979-7143, or visit their Web site at www.centralvirginia.redcross.org.
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