Teter blood drive hopes to quell shortage

Local American Red Cross officials announced a critical blood shortage Tuesday and appealed for donors as a scheduled blood drive was held in Teter Quad in an effort to bolster dangerously low supply. \n"We have less than a one-day supply of all negative types as well as O-positive," said Don Creek, the Bloomington Red Cross donor recruitment representative. "The bottom line is that we are well below our ideal three-day supply for all types." \nWorking as the Red Cross's head nurse during the Teter drive, Susan Machon said by about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, with an hour and half left in the day-long drive, progress in getting donors was going "slow" as only 18 successful contributions were drawn. However, that number is expected to rise slightly as traffic of potential donors picked up near the end. \nThe drive took place in the residence hall's formal lounge as about six volunteers worked registration and convinced people to donate, two to three nurses located in makeshift booths tested and drew the blood and two lab technicians set up in back of the room handled the samples once taken. \n"This is the first time in a long time we have seen such low levels in (the blood supply)," Machon said. "It's just so low right now. Our levels never seemed to regain since the aftermath of Katrina." \nCreek said the main reason for the current shortage, which has affected the River Valley Blood Services region of the Red Cross that includes Bloomington and surrounding areas, is that typically during summer months a noticeable lack of donors are present and this is especially prevalent during recent weeks because of the Fourth of July holiday. \n"It's really a summertime phenomenon," Creek said. "School's out so we lose a lot of donors there and with people traveling for vacations and holidays it is typically a bad time for us. People forget to take an hour to save a life." \nMachon added during the summer months serious accidents tend to increase and thus having ample blood supplies is especially important. \n"As we say, you can help save three people's lives with a single donation," she said. "We are trying to encourage and educate young people it's not at all painful and takes very little effort." \nThough the Teter drive has ended and not many campus drives will be held until the fall semester starts up, Creek said there still are several ways for anyone to contribute and help the Red Cross. He said other local drives are scheduled. One will be held Monday outside Carpenter Realtors, located at 501 N. Rogers St., and another will be held July 21 at Bloomington's City Hall. People can also visit the Bloomington American Red Cross office at 1600 W. Third St. any day of the week during business hours to donate. \nIn addition, he said the agency is always looking for interested groups or organizations that have some potential donors. If so, the Red Cross will actually travel to them. \n"If we find out there is two to three dozen donors somewhere, we will go there," Creek said. "We will go to a frat house, residence hall or just wherever we can find some square feet to draw blood." \nCreek said no matter what blood type, as long is someone is 17 years old, 110 pounds and feels good, he or she can be accepted to help the low levels of blood supply. He added that people can potentially donate six times a year. It is potentially possible to give every eight weeks. \n"Ideally we would like people to start getting into a blood donor habit, just like an oil change," he said. "One way of looking at it is it's just another step from being a resident to being a citizen. Also it's just giving back when someone else needs it and for others to freely give when you may need it"