By Rodnetta Morris

DCCC held a blood bank hosted by the Red Cross between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Jan. 22 and 23 in the Academic Building Cafe.

The event was organized by 25-year-old Austin Carroll, DCCC’s Wellness Coordinator.

“There’s always a need for blood, especially from those of the less common types,” he said. “The American Red Cross continually puts these drives together to help as many patients that are in need of blood in our community.”

Students could register which was preferred through the Red Cross website and enter the code DCCC or walk-in. Once called, donors were ushered behind green curtains, prepped and had their blood drawn. Donors were entered into a $20 gift card raffle.

“This is my fourth time,” said Kimberly Peterman, a 23-year-old liberal arts major. “Yeah, I don’t mind doing it.”

Engineering major Martin Herron, 19, was asked if he understood the importance of giving blood. “Yeah, there’s always a need for it.” Herron said.

According to a Red Cross employee, they need more of type O. “The Red Cross currently has a less than three day supply of type O blood,” Ashley Campuzano said. “Every 30 seconds in the United States, someone needs platelets.”

Students can donate through Power Red, which allows the safe donation of two units of red blood cells with the return of plasma and platelets.

Power Red requirements include donating only every 112 days, up to three times a year, as well as good health.

Male donors have to be 17 years or older, 5 feet 1 inch tall and weigh 130 pounds. Female donors have to be 19 years, 5 feet 5 inches and weigh 150 pounds.

As stated on the Red Cross website, for a donation of “whole blood,” which is simply a person’s blood, good health is needed. Most states also require an age of 17 or over, and the prerequisite weight is 110 pounds.

To see more details about certain medications, travel conditions, personal history, etc. visit the Red Cross website.

According to Carroll, they plan to hold another blood drive in June and next fall.

“We were able to collect 39 units of blood on Wednesday and 40 units on Thursday for a total of 79,” he said. “With that, we were able to save the lives of about 225 local hospital patients.”

Contact Rodnetta Morris at communitarian@mail.dccc.edu