Dozens of life-saving blood transfusions are given daily at Ball Memorial Hospital. Each unit of blood is a miracle to people like Ball State University sophomore Jessica Polley, who received a blood transfusion last year. That gift put the blood drive, which Polley organizes, into a new light.
"So many people have been touched by this," she said. "You go in for a routine procedure and if something bad happens, you are going to need blood. It's a great need, and it all depends on the donors."
The Student Government Association will hold its annual blood drive today and Tuesday at Pruis Hall. Donations will be taken from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Reservations are recommended, but walk-ins are welcome.
Polley, At-Large caucus and blood drive chairwoman, said the drive would accept applications for donation until 5 p.m. and the blood banks would stay open until all the donations were complete.
"This year, we have appointments, so hopefully we won't have people waiting as long," Polley said. "It can sometimes be up to an hour wait. I hope we can have it on a 15-minute schedule." Students can make appointments to donate by e-mailing their preferred time to jlpolley@bsu.edu.
Indiana Blood Center and Ball Memorial Hospital blood banks will participate in the event.
Robert Nunez, donor services supervisor at Ball Memorial Hospital, said they should have five beds running and the Indiana Blood Center should have at least four. The Indiana Blood Center will be using its mobile unit, which will sit outside Pruis Hall.
The theme is "Angels for Life," which Nunez said Ball Memorial Hospital planned to use for several high school and college blood drives this year.
"After each blood drive you kind of collect your wings," Nunez said. "The symbol will identify it as a symbol of life."
SGA hopes to collect 300 pints of blood, up from approximately 184 pints collected last year. That drive was only one day, however, and SGA decided to add a day this year to increase the amount of blood donated.
The blood drive was arranged to take place eight weeks after the Staff Council's drive. Polley said the intention was to get students on a regular donation schedule.
"The real goal is, even if there isn't a blood drive on campus, to get them to go to a blood bank and donate every eight weeks," Polley said.
Ball Memorial Hospital and Cancer Center are the regional facilities and have a self-sufficient blood center, Nunez said. They use approximately 36 units of blood a day and try to collect 40 units, he said.
"When we have major events like we have at Ball State, we can increase our volume and make sure we can meet the demand." Nunez said. "With holidays that could increase quickly, so we hit Ball State to get the blood donations we need for the upcoming holidays."
Last year, approximately $3,000 worth of money, goods and services were donated, and this year, Polley estimated there has been between $4,000 and $5,000 donated.
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