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July 17, 2007

Drawing Out Donors

Organizers welcome student and faculty donations at campus blood drive next week

Story by: Barbara Gelinas

The Shorthorn staff

The Shorthorn: File art

Finance junior Marcus Ray donates blood in a Carter BloodCare bus on the University Center mall in this fall 2005 photo. The center comes to the university every semester and will be on campus from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. July 24 and 25.

Carter BloodCare and UTA Volunteers will host a blood drive on the Central Library and University Center malls from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. July 24 and 25.

Carter BloodCare holds a blood drive on campus each semester, said P.K. Kelly, Student Activities associate director. The university’s blood drive history dates so far back that neither Kelly or Carter BloodCare consultant Becky Swindell could remember when it began.

“I donate blood because of my background as an emergency nurse,” said Diane Michal, School of Nursing Bachelor of Science program director. “There is always a chronic shortage of blood.”

Carter BloodCare provides about 96 percent of the Dallas-Fort Worth area’s blood supply. Swindell said the center often travels to churches, malls, hospitals and high schools for donations.

“We go anywhere that will have enough donors,” she said.

During regular semesters, about 40 to 60 donate at each drive. During the summer, organizers expect about 30.

When asked which other universities they visit, Swindell said, “I can’t think of one we haven’t been to.”

She said that although not many faculty or staff have donated in the past, she welcomes them to.

She said universities, like high schools, are big draws because the donors are young, healthy and not likely to be taking prescription medication.

The center will use and give out CareCards, key chain cards that provide access to a previous donor’s record and skips the process of completing the donor record card.

“It saves a few minutes in the process,” Swindell said.

She said there is always a need for blood. However, it’s in shorter supply during the summer because many donors leave town on vacation.

“The need stays the same, but the supply goes down,” she said.

The center also collects blood at the School of Nursing with the Arlington Nursing Students Association, Swindell said.

“I donate because I have a rare blood type — B positive,” said Holly Woods, School of Nursing administrative secretary. “They always call me back and tell me where my blood went. That keeps me going back.”

Those who fill out a donor record card will be eligible to win the weekly $100 gift card to Saltgrass Steak House. It’s not necessary to donate blood to win.

All students who donate will receive a free T-shirt, duffle bag, windshield shade, juice and snacks, Swindell said.