Students Statewide Aid in Winter Blood Donations

By JJ Andersen
ja287206@ohio.edu

The O’Bleness Hospital Blood Laboratory isn’t facing blood shortages like many other places are. Butlab manager, Melanie Stethen, is still excited about the blood donation battle between Ohio University and Miami University of Ohio. Blood banks, hospitals and laboratories will never turn down donations. As Stethen says, “When a patient needs blood, there’s really nothing else they can have to sustain life.”


Stethen explains about the blood bank and the winter.

Winter Blues
No one knows better than blood bank workers that the weather can discourage donors from giving. Frigid temperatures, blustery conditions and icy roads can very easily deter people from making their donation. At the “Blood Battle” it was evident that the weather was discouraging students. Stethen explained, “It all depends on how willing people are to come out and donate with the Red Cross.”


Stethen talks about the importance of blood and blood drives.

The Blood Battle
OU and Miami began a two part blood drive competition Monday, with OU donors reporting to the Ping Center. The totals will be added and the winner announced on February 26, when the two schools meet in a men’s basketball match-up at the Convocation Center. The wager: the losing school's Student Senate President must sing the winner's fight song at halftime.



Extended Effort
Organizers separated the blood donation dates by a month because of the restrictions that prevent donors from giving blood on back-to-back days.
Second Blood Drive:
*WHEN- February 16th, 2009 from Noon to 7 pm
*WHERE- Ping Center
*HOW- Call 1-800-GIVELIFE or sign up at givelife.org

Inside the Lab
The Blood Bank in the O’Bleness laboratory follows the recommendations of American Association of Blood Banks. The AABB has been in operation for 60 years and is responsible for collecting almost all the nation’s blood supply. The American Red Cross supplies the blood for the bank. Blood storage conditions follow these guidelines:

- Stored in 35 to 37 degrees Fahrenheit
- Blood is good for up to 36-38 days
- By day 36 blood is sent to high trauma locations

The lab maintains accreditation with the College of American Pathologists. The CAP ensures the lab is equipped with top-notch equipment and a quality trained staff.