Crossett Holds Successful Blood Drive

Staff Writer

   With 186 units of blood donated last November, the College of Technology at Crossett and Life Share teamed up again April 16 to offer students and members of the community an opportunity to give blood.

   “Last November’s drive was the largest the campus has seen,” said Mitch Powell, student services coordinator at COT-Crossett.

   Because of the critical shortage of all types of blood, the college worked hard to recruit individuals to donate blood.  They handed out fliers, visited local businesses, sent e-mails and relied on word of mouth. 

   “We are asking individuals from the African American community especially to donate because of the Sickle Cell crisis that is being faced in the medical community,” said Nina Edwards, nursing student at COT-Crossett and first-time donor. “Knowing you helped someone is the reason I gave blood.”

   According to the Life Share Web site, patients in our area need 470 units of blood components everyday.  Some major reasons patients need blood include cancer and heart and blood vessel disease and transplant. 

   Donors could donate two different ways at the Crossett campus drive: whole blood, which provides the major source of blood and blood components in the United States, or by the Alyx machine, which collects only red blood cells.  Whole blood donation takes about 10 - 15 minutes. Alyx takes about 30 minutes and donors must meet more criteria than whole blood donors.

   Before individuals can donate, they must register with Life Share, have their vitals checked and answer a series of questions.  Once they complete their blood donation, donors receive a T-shirt and snacks.

   “To me, giving blood isn’t about the gain like T-shirts, its the sense of purpose, knowing you’ve done something that will help someone else,” said Paulette Lirete, nursing student at COT-Crossett.

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