Still time to donate blood for week-long campaign
Friday is the last day for students to save lives by donating blood.
Dan Phelps, director of the Val R. Christensen Service Center, said while students have a good chance of winning their Blood Battle with the University of Utah, they have a perfect chance of helping people.
“I can’t think of any better service than saving thousands of lives,” Phelps said.
The Red Cross estimates every pint of blood saves 2-to-3 lives. Summertime is the orgranization’s biggest struggle in getting donations, so now is a good time for students to make a difference, he said.
While students at the University of Utah can give blood any day of the week, they cannot give as much as students at USU.
The Red Cross allows USU to donate about 250 pints of blood each day. The facilities at Utah will only accept around 100, Phelps said.
Utah plans to get 300 pints for the competition. USU can win if students make an effort to give blood Friday, he said.
Sarah Dallof, a broadcast journalism senior, said, “Most of the time, nothing comes from a rivalry, but this time, the results will be felt all around the state.”
So far, about 250 people have participated in the blood drive.
Phelps said, “We’re looking to get a lot more [Friday].”
Dallof said time spent giving blood is short for the service being done. The process has never taken her more than half an hour.
“I don’t think people actually realize how much they’re helping,” she said.
The Blood Battle continues Friday from 9 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Sunburst Lounge.
Phelps said, “Give what you can, because you may be saving your own life, if not someone close to you.”
-amarie@cc.usu.edu