Melissa Telfer reclined in a blue cot Wednesday, her left arm sitting on a small table.
The red pump of a blood pressure indicator rested near her hand and a nurse questioned her while cleaning the crook of her arm with a cotton swab.
“I’m a little nervous,” the city employee said. “I’ve never done this before. But I had a baby last year and I figured if I could do that, I can give blood.”
The East Lansing Employees’ Second Annual Blood Drive was held from 10 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. at the East Lansing Public Library, 950 Abbott Road. The Great Lakes Region of the American Red Cress collected 31 units of blood.
Carolyn Bennett, city community development administrator, was happy with attendance.
“We are already looking forward to next year,” Bennett said.
A few of the donors were MSU students; most of the donors were East Lansing employees.
Jim Rummel, Great Lakes Region American Red Cross spokesman, said about two-and-a-half days worth of blood is in stock in the region, and there’s always a need for more.
One must be at least 17 years old, weigh 110 pounds and not have donated in the past 56 days to donate blood, Rummel said.
The Red Cross says 97 percent of those living in the United States will someday need a blood transfusion, while only 5 percent donate blood.
East Lansing employee Richard Hanson donated Wednesday.
“They need a good supply of blood,” Hanson said. “And I make more than I need.”
