A blood drive hosted by the Connecticut Blood Center and Wesleyan American Medical Student Association (AMSA) in Beckham Hall saw over 30 students on Thursday, Feb. 5.
Set up with seven portable reclining chairs for donors and partitions for privacy, Beckham Hall was transformed into a space for students to give back to the Connecticut community.
The initiative aimed to address the decrease in walk-in donations during the winter, as well as the persistent need for blood due to the increase in road accidents. This donation shortage has also grown into a long-term issue: The average American lifespan has increased, putting pressure on the supply of blood products available for treatments for diseases such as cancer. Earlier this year, the American Red Cross announced a severe shortage in its blood supply due to flu outbreaks across the country and the impact of weather conditions along the Eastern Seaboard.
“The shelves in our lab are pretty much empty,” Connecticut Blood Center drive lead Cathy Pepin said. “Some of [the reason] is the increase in car accidents in this kind of weather, and a lot of our products go on to help cancer patients. People are living longer, so you need extra products. When you hear commercials saying that [donating] is critical, it really is.”
Each student was required to fill out a questionnaire with a phlebotomist present and provide valid identification. Donors’ hemoglobin levels and vital signs were then tested before giving approximately one pint of blood over the course of around 10 minutes.
Students were offered snacks and drinks both before and after the donation, and could be seen chatting with the staff of the Connecticut Blood Center to ease their nerves.
For the Connecticut Blood Center, most of the blood that is donated stays in facilities within the state. Pepin emphasized the importance of helping your neighbor and the close-knit, grassroots nature of the organization that has developed over their years of operation. She, among other volunteers and staff, advised students at the event on how to prepare for donating blood.
“We definitely want people to hydrate with a lot of water from three days before [the donation,]” Pepin said. “To have something in your stomach is key. And maybe just come in to watch the process, try to get the fear factor out of your head, and you’ll see that it isn’t all that bad. We’re just trying to target the youth by going to campuses and trying to get them started [on giving blood] at an early age.”
Wesleyan AMSA has continually stressed the importance of student support of blood donations, especially during this severe shortage. By collaborating with local organizations such as the Connecticut Blood Center, they hope to spread awareness of the impact their donations have on the lives of others within the community, as well as the continual need for more donations.
“This blood drive is especially meaningful to the Wesleyan community because many [members] of the community are personally affected by prevalent conditions that rely on donated blood as a treatment,” Wesleyan AMSA representative Alba Moreno ’27 wrote in a message to The Argus. “This includes individuals undergoing cancer treatments, living with sickle cell disease or anemia, or recovering from major surgeries. The blood donated at the drive has the possibility of making a difference in one of our community members’ lives.”
While some students reported feeling nervous upon entering Beckham Hall, others were more experienced.
“I’ve donated blood before, so I knew what it would be like,” Adrie Young ’28 wrote in a message to The Argus. “[The staff] sat me in a reclined chair, talked me through the steps, and even gave me a sheet with strategies to minimize dizziness and lightheadedness during the draw. It’s set up at a very convenient location, and it only takes about half an hour total, so it ends up being a really easy way to give back and help others.”
Wesleyan AMSA holds two blood drives every semester. The next drive is scheduled for Monday, Apr. 27 at the same location.
Akari Ikeda can be reached at aikeda@wesleyan.edu
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