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RHA, Red Cross urge students to give donations for final campus blood drive

April 10, 2001

If you do one thing before the end of the year, the Residence Halls Association asks this - save three lives.

The last RHA-sponsored blood drive of the year is taking place from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. April 25 in the Spartan rooms of the International Center.

RHA member and drive co-organizer Jerry Roll said students should take advantage of the opportunity to give back to their community.

“Students should realize they’re part of a bigger community outside this university,” said Roll, a telecommunication junior.

“With over 40,000 students at MSU and so many opportunities to give, there’s no reason why we shouldn’t take time to help others.”

One donation can save up to three lives, and the entire process takes about an hour, according to the American Red Cross.

Drive co-organizer Derek Young, who also organized the first RHA bone marrow drive in February, said he hopes to see more than 100 people participate in the drive.

“We wanted to get a final drive in before the end of the semester when students start to leave,” the human resource management freshman said.

“This is a great way to help out fellow students and residents in the mid-Michigan community.”

According the Red Cross, less than 5 percent of eligible donors give blood. Blood shortages frequently occur during summer months and especially near summer holidays.

Thousands of people across Michigan rely on blood products to combat diseases such as cancer, heart disease and sickle-cell anemia - as well as the injured in need of emergency transfusions.

“We’re not out of the slump of blood shortage yet,” Roll said. “Type O is always in great demand.”

The Red Cross has a critical need for type O, known as the “universal donor,” for community emergencies. Type O blood can be transfused to people of all different blood types, and about 38 percent of the population are type O donors.

Students interesting in volunteering should contact Roll or Young at rolljerr@msu.edu and youngde3@msu.edu.

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