As part of homecoming week festivities, Stanislaus State will be hosting the “Warriors Give Back” blood drive. The blood drive takes place on Tuesday, February 22 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in front of the University Bookstore. Registration for the event can be completed here.
The campus will be partnering with the non-profit organization, Vitalant, for the drive. Vitalant will offer every blood donor a mini-physical, checking their pulse and blood pressure and a cholesterol test.
Stanislaus State staff, faculty and students all have the chance to donate blood during the event. ASI Leadership Assistant, Colin Gage, explained the importance behind hosting a blood drive in the midst of returning back to campus.
“For many students who started college during the pandemic, this will be the first time that they have been able to experience what an in-person Homecoming Week looks and feels like. We included the blood drive in our homecoming celebrations so that members of the campus community can give back and give other people the chance to celebrate life as well,” Gage said.
According to the American Red Cross, the COVID-19 pandemic has have dramatically affected the amount of blood that has been donated over the past two years. This shortage in blood has caused many hard decisions to be made.
“The Red Cross has experienced a 10% decline in the number of people donating blood since the beginning of the pandemic and continues to confront relentless issues due to the pandemic, including ongoing blood drive cancellations and staffing limitations,” the organization said in a press release.
Blood drives are made for emergency cases. Some examples of those emergencies are heart transplants, car accidents, cancer treatments, and much more.
Some important notes about donating blood during a pandemic include whether or not you were recently exposed or recently had COVID-19. In these situations, you would have to wait a brief period.
You are also eligible to donate despite vaccine status, depending on if you meet eligibility requirements, which can be found here.
