On May 8, Skyline College held their 36th Annual Blood Drive in partnership with the Red Cross. The drive received a massive turnout from students and teachers alike as the 2nd floor of building 6 was full throughout the day.
16 nurses were on the job of taking blood from 9am to 3pm. Students had to meet certain weight requirements and were given snacks and water after they donated. The event attracted students who donated before, as well as first-time donators. Skyline student Tony Yuan enjoyed his first time giving blood. “My friend got me involved with giving blood and it went good,” said Yuan. “I would give blood again in the future.”
Kevin Silva, the event’s supervisor, also saw the drive as a success. “It has been a good turnout; the room has been filled with students all day,” said Silva. The blood that was donated also goes through a small travel process before it is sent to hospitals. “All the blood that is donated today first goes to Southern California to be manufactured and then is sent back here to go to local hospitals throughout the Bay Area,” said Silva.
Update: 5/14/2013 7:41 p.m.
On May 8, Skyline College held their 36th Annual Blood Drive in partnership with the Red Cross. The drive received a massive turnout from students and teachers alike as the second floor of Building 6 was full throughout the day.
There were 16 nurses on the job to take blood from 9.a.m. to 3 p.m. Students had to meet certain weight requirements and were given snacks and water after they donated. Requirements included that students must be in good health, be 17 years of age or older, and weigh 110 lbs or more. But students who met these requirements may have been turned away if they recently gotten a tattoo or traveled outside the country. These precautions are in place to prevent blood that may be contaminated or is carrying diseases from being donated.
Kevin Silva, the event’s supervisor, also saw the drive as a success. “It has been a good turnout; the room has been filled with students all day,” Silva said.
The blood that was donated also goes through a short travel process before it is sent to hospitals.
“All the blood that is donated today first goes to Southern California to be manufactured and then is sent back here to go to local hospitals throughout the Bay Area,” Silva said.
The nurses on staff during the drive also enjoyed the atmosphere that students had to offer.
“This is my second time here and I love it,” said Kevin Sheppard, an American Red Cross nurse. “It has been great. Donating blood is an easy thing to do today and it’s good to see so many students be able to come and donate today.”
According to the FDA, the manufacturing of blood includes various processes that include separating the plasma from the blood. When it comes to plasma, “further manufacturing means that liquid portion of blood separated and used as material to prepare another product.”
There is a constant need for blood considering the high number of injured victims that require new blood. The American Red Cross website states that 44,000 blood donations are needed every day and someone in the U.S. needs blood “every two seconds.”
Skyline students answered this call. The event attracted students who donated previously, as well as first time donators. Skyline student Tony Yuan enjoyed his first time giving blood.
“My friend got me involved with giving blood and it went very well,” Yuan said. “I would give blood again in the future.”
This article has been updated to include a picture. 5/9/2013 8:06 p.m.
This article was updated with the article. 5/14/2013 7:42 p.m.
