“It Could Be Someone You Know”
By Emily Holley
“It could be someone you know,” said Beth Pickar as she explained the need for blood. And for Pickar, it was someone she knew who once needed donated blood.
The Iowa State University Memorial Union swarmed with activity last week during the fall blood drive. For four days, students rolled up their sleeves and donated blood while enjoying nineties hits, information about campus organizations and a variety of snacks. Pickar was especially motivated to donate after a conversation with her roommate, who is a blood cancer survivor. Pickar’s roommate mentioned the blood drive while Pickar was studying. When Pickar mentioned that her blood type is O positive, her roommate told her a Power Red donation could make a big impact.
“I could do that,” Pickar told her roommate.
Pickar is a junior agronomy major at Iowa State University. She hopes to become a crop consultant near her hometown of New Hampton, Iowa.
Although she is a regular blood donor who began donating in high school, this was Pickar’s first Power Red donation.
“I’m feeling really good,” Pickar said during the donation process. “I really like giving blood, just to give back.”
A Power Red donation is different from a whole blood donation. Power Red donors give a concentrated dose of red blood cells in a single donation, maximizing their impact. During this type of donation, red blood cells are separated from other components, and the plasma and platelets are safely and comfortably returned to the donor. Red cells from a Power Red donation are typically given to trauma patients, newborns, people who need emergency transfusions when giving birth, people with sickle cell anemia and anyone suffering blood loss.
“I texted my roommate as I was being hooked up,” said Pickar. “She was stoked.”
Students, professors and community members enthusiastically support the campus blood drives each year. Many area businesses provide benefits and giveaways to students who donate. Some professors offer extra credit to encourage donations.
Blood Drive is a student club on the Iowa State campus. With the help and support of the Red Cross, students organize and facilitate a blood drive in the fall and spring. It is one of the largest student-run blood drives in the country. This year, the fall blood drive collected 828 units of blood. First-time donors provided 312 of those units.
Pickar enjoys receiving text messages from the Red Cross that tell her where her blood went.
“It makes it worth it,” she said. “It just makes me feel better knowing that it’s helping people.”
Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood, so the need is constant. There is no substitute for donated blood. Eligible donors with O, A negative and B negative blood types are urged to make a Power Red donation when possible.
When asked what Pickar would say to encourage someone to give a Power Red donation, she smiled.
“It’s so easy to do, and it just makes you feel good,” she said. “You’re doing something that will help so many people.”
You can help people too. Learn more about Power Red donations and make an appointment to donate at a blood drive near you. Visit redcrossblood.org for more information.
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