Students “saved a life” April 21 in Lot 2 near the auditorium during a blood drive hosted by South Texas Blood & Tissue.
Although the campus endured chilly and rainy weather, it didn’t stop psychology junior Jordyn Hymnd from donating her blood.
“I was walking, and I was like, ‘oh there’s a truck, I’m gonna go do that,’ and so I did,” Hymns said.
The event was organized by the Delta Chi Fraternity and the Mays Center for Experiential Learning and Community Engagement. Participants signed up for the event or walked in and asked to donate.
The blood donated is given to over 100 hospitals in 48 counties across South Texas, said Rudy Flores, Donor Strategy and Growth Manager for South Texas Blood & Tissue.
Donors are able to donate a pint of whole blood every eight weeks. Whole blood can be used for patients in accidents or undergoing surgery.
The process of drawing blood takes about 10 to 15 minutes.
Platelets can also be donated every seven days.
“It’s a little longer procedure, smaller needle, but those platelets are helping our cancer patients,” Flores said.
Flores said platelets are constantly needed and are in higher demand because of their short shelf life of seven days. The platelets need to be watched and checked for any bacterial growth for two of those days.
“I guarantee you platelets that are donated today will be used within the next two days,” Flores said.
Before they can donate, aspiring donors undergo a screening to determine whether something could prevent them from donating. A nurse will ask questions and do a mini-physical; this part is done in a separate room and is private.
Some obstacles to donating include recent travel to locations with high-risk diseases (such as malaria), infected or swollen tattoos or having multiple partners within a certain time frame.
“A person who can’t donate, their biggest contribution is their voice,” Flores said. Telling others about the blood drives and bringing in people who are able to donate is a way to use their voice, Flores said.
Only 3% of the eligible population donate blood.
“We, as a blood bank, have not done a very good job at educating students…to let them know that it matters, it saves lives,” Flores said.
“I can always regrow my blood,” said Hymnd.
Flores has been a part of South Texas Blood & Tissue since 2002 and has donated blood 185 times as a diabetic.
“I don’t just talk the talk; I walk it,” Flores said.
South Texas Blood & Tissue wants to inform students at TAMUSA about the purpose of the blood drives.
“How do we, No. 1, tell them what we do, why we do it, and how their donation makes a difference?” Flores said.
South Texas Blood & Tissue started its mobile access in 1974 with an RV Winnebago. They provide and deliver blood to 25% of Texas.
Some hospitals they distribute to are University Health, Baptist Health System, CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health System and Methodist Healthcare.
“There’s a hospital waiting for it. There’s a patient waiting for it,” Flores said.
South Texas Blood & Tissue does not have any future blood drive events planned on campus.
Flores said they don’t do enough blood drives and they aren’t consistent as they should be.
“We don’t do them as often as we should,” Flores said.
Flores said they want to do blood drives in different areas of the campus. “The goal is to be able to go where students are.”
“This side of the campus won’t attract the students that are on the other side of the campus,” Flores said.
“We want a life-saving tradition here on campus. TAMUSA is growing and we want to grow with them,” Flores said.
For more information about donating, visit the South Texas Blood & Tissue website or call 210-757-9505.
