Huge needles, the assumption of immense pain, and the possibility of passing out can make even the bravest students shy away from the idea of donating blood.
But donating just one pint of blood can save three lives and transform ordinary college students into heroes.
"It's important that you give back because we have a constant source of blood, so it's not like it harms you in any way except for that 30 minutes it take to give blood," said Drew Gaczewski, a freshman media studies major and a veteran blood donor. "It's for the greater good; you're going to put yourself through 30 minutes, maybe an hour [of discomfort], but just knowing that you're saving lives as you do it, it's just an overwhelming experience."
Statistics show that one in three people will need a blood transfusion sometime in their life, but only one in 33 people actually donate, according to America's Blood Centers,North America's network of non-profit community blood centers.
Upstate New York Transplant Services(UNYTS) offers UB students the opportunity to make an impact on the Western New York community by conducting blood drives on campus that are sponsored by UB's student clubs. The most recent blood drive was held this past Monday in the Student Union.
Established in 1981, UNYTS is among the leading procurement organizations in the U.S. In addition to being one of the only eight centers nationwide to house organ, eye, and tissue procurement in one location, UNYTS also serves Erie, Niagara, and Wyoming County as a community blood bank.
The blood that UNYTS collects and processes is made available for purchase by area hospitals. This decreases the cost of blood to local hospitals by as much as 15 percent each year, according to an informational pamphlet supplied by UNYTS.
"Blood is the second highest expense for a hospital," said Jonathan Graves, an account executive at UNYTS. "We're able to save them a couple million dollars that could be used for other things."
Not only does UNYTS provide blood for local hospitals, it also provides UB with blood and organs for research purposes, according to Graves.
The turnout for the drive held this past Monday was admirable, according to Graves.
On average, 90 to 96 students participate in the blood drives on campus at the beginning of the fall semester, but that number declines as the year progresses to around 45 to 60 donors, according to Graves.
"The number declines because a lot of students are unaware that they can donate every 56 days," Graves said.
Many participants are first time donors who may be uninformed about the logistics of blood donation. Good news for them: UNYTS is in the process of having a Donate Life Club approved through the Student Association. The club will educate the student body and raise awareness of organ, eye, tissue, and blood donation.
"Students sometimes ask ‘Why should I donate [through UNYTS] if I'm not from around here?'" Graves said. "Most students live here for four years. During that time, Buffalo becomes your community. You're helping out your new community."
Email: news@ubspectrum.com
Photo: Courtesy of Mitchell Kish
