ESU’s Pre-Med Club sponsors blood drive

Karla Delamata, Secretary of the Pre-Med Club, was working the registration table. Photo Credit / Jamie Reese
Karla Delamata, Secretary of the Pre-Med Club, was working the registration table. Photo Credit / Jamie Reese
Karla Delamata, Secretary of the Pre-Med Club, was working the registration table.
Photo Credit / Jamie Reese

BY TINA HENNESSEY

SC Staff Writer

On Tuesday, February 25, East Stroudsburg University’s Pre-Med Club sponsored a Blood Drive with the American Red Cross.  This event took place in the Keystone Room from 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

People that were donors for ESU’s Blood Drive were eligible to win a $250 VISA Gift Card through the American Red Cross.

“They took care of me. I went and was in and out quickly,” said Daisy Hernandez, a senior and English major at ESU.

The American Red Cross is in urgent need for blood due to the winter storms and freezing temperatures that have prevented the collection of thousands of donations.

According to redcrossblood.org every two seconds a person in the U.S. is in need of blood and just one pint of blood donated can help up to three people.

There are many requirements when it comes to donating blood based on age, gender, and health.  If you weigh at least 110 pounds and are considered healthy you are eligible to donate blood in most states.

Each state has its own requirements for the age of donors being either 16 or 17.  In addition, some states require parental consent and other specific guidelines for those 16 years of age.

In order to be a double red cell donor, males must be healthy, at least 17 years old, at least 5’1”, and weigh at least 130 pounds.  If a female wants to be a double red cell donor they must be healthy, at least 17 years old, at least 5’5”, and weigh at least 150 pounds.

There are four different types of donations.  The first is Blood or Whole Blood Donation which is the most common.  This is when a pint of whole blood is given.

The second type of donation is Double Red Cells Donation which is completed with an apheresis machine.  The machine collects the red cells from the donor but is able to return a lot of the plasma and platelets.

The third type of donation is Platelet Apheresis Donation which can only be done at certain American Red Cross Blood Donation centers.

An apheresis machine takes the platelets and a little plasma but then returns to the donor the red cells and some of the plasma.

The last type of donation is Plasma Apheresis Donation which is done at the same time as the Platelet Apheresis Donation and is also only completed at American Red Cross Blood Donation centers.

This donation is done by the machine which separates the plasma, platelets and red cells; keeping the plasma and returning to the donor the red cells and platelets.

“I do this because it’s important to help. I’m a universal donor, so it feels good to help,” said Hernandez.

Email Tina at:

thennessey@live.esu.edu