Thanks to a blood donor, a Student Government Association senator kept her mother. She hopes today's blood drive will save someone else.
Jessica Polley, blood drive committee chairwoman, and four other senators organized SGA's first blood drive, which takes place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Irving Gym today. Polley said she recognized the importance of donating after her mother broke her back, pelvis and hip in a car accident 15 years ago.
Already anemic, her mother ruptured several organs and desperately needed blood, Polley said. Luckily, the hospital hosted a drive the day before.
"A lot of her blood type happened to be donated," Polley said. "That's the only reason she's here."
The O-negative supply at Ball Memorial Hospital's Blood Bank nearly ran dry this week, Ball Memorial Blood Bank Manager Barbara Waters said. Past donors were called and asked to contribute, Waters said.
Sharon Rhodes, donor services coordinator, said the blood bank asked the Red Cross for help, but it couldn't spare any.
"We've been searching for blood donors," Rhodes said.
Rhodes said to be eligible, donors need to be healthy and weigh at least 110 pounds. They should also bring a form of ID.
She said anyone who couldn't give earlier should try again.
"Maybe people tried to give blood earlier this year, and for some reason or another, they might've been turned down," Rhodes said. "They might be eligible now."
Donors will receive a free T-shirt and will enter a raffle for a Matrix Revolution DVD, Polley said. Polley said SGA's goal is 75 pints.
SGA president Ben Tietz said missing the goal won't mean failure. Every pint will help, he said.
"(The drive) still donated blood to save someone else's life," Tietz said.
Needles shouldn't scare anyone off, Polley said.
"If you don't watch them insert the needle, it really doesn't hurt that bad," Polley said.
Polley said she expects the drive's rush hour to occur between noon and 3 p.m. because of class schedules. Polley said donating shouldn't exceed 15 minutes for most people, unless they need a while to recover.
Tietz said SGA plans to sponsor another drive next year.
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