By: CECELIA ROEDER
Design Editor
Preface photo/NATALIE MILLS
A local blood bank teamed with the IU South Bend Student Nursing Association on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons to bring donation straight to campus.
The South Bend Medical Foundation (SBMF) brought a large RV in front of Greenlawn Hall, looking for faculty and students to help by donating a little blood and a little time.
Carla Leal, blood donor recruitment specialist with SBMF, explained that the time of year is one reason they came to IUSB.
“There are a lot of accidents after holidays,” Lead said, referring to Halloween and Thanksgiving. “There is a higher demand, people get hurt,” Leal said.
Students congregated in and around the bus, busy filling out registration forms and talking with the staff.
Alex Leonard, sophomore, said she donates due to the high demand.
“I donated because it’s needed. I donate every time there’s a blood drive,” Leonard said.
Preface photo/NATALIE MILLS
According to Leal, three out of four people will need a blood product at some point in their lifetime. The SBMF also notes on their website that out of the 38% of Americans who are eligible to donate blood, only five people out of 100 actually do.
Since U.S. law requires blood donors to wait 56 days between whole blood donations, the SBMF will be returning to IUSB from Nov. 5 to Nov. 6 and again in 2014.
Leal encouraged students interested in donating in the future to visit www.givebloodnow.com. Walk-ins are welcomed, but registration online is encouraged to help cut down on time spent in line.
“Remember, you can save three lives with one donation, it costs nothing, and takes 45 minutes or less, Leal said.
Preface photo/NATALIE MILLS
