The ratio of blood given versus
people saved is 1-to-3; an amazing
number considering that the
one is equal to one pint of blood.
Think about that next time you
walk into the Gallagher Room
only to find the floor covered in a
blue tarp, as if a new coat of paint
is going to be applied to the walls,
and there are rows of beds lined
up in the center of the room, like
nap time has finally come for
sleep-deprived college students.
But it’s the setup of the Red Cross,
who came to Bucks in order to
take donations of blood.
“We have 29 people scheduled
today to give blood,” said Helen
Martin, senior manager of operations,
“but the beauty of it is that
we’ve already had 15 walk-ins
and it’s only 9 o’clock!”
Working at this event for the last
year and a half and visiting Bucks
on three occasions, Martin was
more than pleased to say that they
may not only reach the quota of
blood they had hoped for, they
may go over it.
Martin said the donation process
is simple. “You answer several
basic questions, if you’ve been
vaccinated outside the country, if
you’ve been to a high malaria risk
region of the world, your weight,
temperature and then a quick iron
test to make sure you’re healthy.”
Aprick of the needle and a few
minutes later a bag of blood is
being cataloged and as Martin
said, “You’ll enjoy some of the
finest orange juice we can provide
while you take a short rest.”
After that, the blood is shipped to
the National Testing Lab in
Philadelphia, where red blood
cells are tested for any foreign
invaders.
If they find something wrong, a
confidential letter is sent to you
explaining why your blood cannot
be used.
But most blood is acceptable and
is sent out to local hospitals or
held in reserve.
“If there ever is a tragedy we
need to be ready to send what we
can to help those areas that have
started to run low,” Martin said.
“And we don’t pay you for your
donation because everything we
do here is volunteering to save
lives.”
But some donors are rejects during
the screening process.
“Are you a homosexual male who
has had sex with another man
within the last year?” Answer yes
and you will be banned from giving
blood.
“Evidently the Red Cross supports
the Center for Disease Control’s
policy not to accept the
blood of homosexual men if they
have had sex with men within one
year,” Professor Frank Levy stated
in an e-mail to the Centurion.
“Statistics show that African-
American men make up a disproportionate
number of HIV-positive
cases in the United States and
they are not banned from giving
blood.”
This information has led to the
protest of the Blood Drive by
Levy’s group, the Open Door
Club, a campus club that promotes
awareness and education
of Gay, Lesbian, Transgender and
Bisexual issues.
“I can understand you have to
wait six months after getting a tattoo
or getting medicine outside of
the country,” said Tiffany
Luszczak, an early childhood education
major. “It’s to protect the
people that are getting your blood
from becoming sick. But for
being gay, that’s just stupid!”
“We do it to defer people from the
AIDS epidemic,” Martin
explained when questioned about
the protest, “but that doesn’t
mean we don’t want them here,
we don’t discriminate against any
one group. We always welcome
volunteers and regardless if you
can’t give blood that doesn’t
mean you can’t help.”
The Red Cross is a volunteer
organization and encourages anyonewho
is interested in community
service hours, helping a good
cause or just looking to do something
helpful to feel free to contact
any of their offices.
Though the protest left several
with mixed feelings about
whether to help or stand back from
giving blood, the majority of
those coming in were eager
donors.
“I’m encouraging my students to
all come out and help,” said Professor
Kathy Webb. “It’s a fine
way to help the community and it
gives you a sense of pride…”