Oct. 26, 2015
Abbie Stillman
[email protected]
UCCS was named the 2013 Outstanding Blood Drive Partner by Bonfils Blood Center. The blood drive continues this year and will take place Oct. 27-29.
They hope to collect approximately 180 pints of blood which can help over 560 people who may have a disease or who are recovering from surgeries.
They will be collecting blood in University Center room 116 from 10-11:40 a.m. and 1-3:30 P.M. all three days.
Ida Dilwood, co-chair of the UCCS blood drive, explained in an email the blood drive takes both appointments and walk-ins.
This year, the blood drive has 162 appointments available. In past years, UCCS donors have walked in the day of. One donation takes about an hour but is equivalent to two hours of community service.
Dilwood, who has served as co-chair of the UCCS blood drive since 2012, gives blood every year.
“It is very important to me because my son needed a blood transfusion when he was a baby so I always try to donate,” she said.
Someone in the United States will need blood almost every two seconds.
In order to reach the needs of the community, Bonfils Blood Drive will need about 3,000 units each week, said Dilwood.
Dilwood explained that one car accident victim can require up to 100 pints of blood, so the more donors they get the better. The blood drive anticipates that approximately 40 percent of donors this year are probably first-time donors.
The weight requirements include a minimum of 115 pounds and a maximum of 350. Donors must be at least 18 years old to donate without a guardian’s consent and 16 or 17 with a guardian’s consent.
For donation requirements and general information, go to bonfils.org/index.cfm/donateblood/eligibility.