By Ginny Washbish—
The American Red Cross calls me more than any past boyfriend. Ever since my first donation, it seems I am the go-to girl when it comes to any blood shortage. I am O-positive, a universal donor. They guilt me into going and I am rewarded with free Oreo cookies and fruit juice.
The American Association of Blood Banks reported that “less than 10 percent of Americans donate, although 38 percent of the nation is eligible to do so.” Many of these volunteers are one time donors — hitters and quitters!
There is an upside though.Aaccording to the American Red Cross website, “20 percent of the millions of donations made annually are through college and high school blood drives.” At U of L, the blood drives hosted at the Red Barn never seem short of donors, or members of Greek Life.
This is because blood drives are now focusing on incentives for donations. The Crowne Plaza Hotel will be hosting the annual “Holiday Hero: UK and UL Governor’s Cup Blood Drive” on Sept. 10 from noon to 7 p.m. At Holiday Hero, volunteers can receive a t-shirt, a Graeters’ coupon, and a Stokers’ Broaster chicken dinner. Nothing goes better with a chicken dinner, than a needle plunging deep into your vein. Yum.
This also gives students time to scuffle it out before the big rivalry game. You could place bets on who can bleed out the fastest or make a snarky comment on how a Wildcat Fan really doesn’t bleed blue.
But really, students should just come and donate because it’s your civic duty. One pint of blood can save up to three lives and there is no bigger incentive than helping a patient in need.
To check out more donation sites, visit Redcrossblood.org.
