Friday, November 6, 1998
UCLA commission offers incentives to lure donors
HEALTH: Medical Center shortage prompts drive
to replenish blood supply
By Barbara Ortutay
Daily Bruin Staff
The Student Welfare Commission (SWC) is out for blood again, and
this year they are competing with the American Red Cross for UCLA
donors.
While in previous years the SWC and the Red Cross have joined
forces to hold blood drives, this year they are both holding their
own during sixth and seventh week, respectively.
"In the past, SWC has done their blood drives with us, but this
year they’re not," said Red Cross organizer Kristina
Schoenrock.
The SWC blood drive is collecting blood specifically for the
UCLA Blood and Platelet Center. According to center coordinator
Kevin Clark, there are several reasons for holding a UCLA-only
blood drive independent from the Red Cross.
"The UCLA Medical Center is in dire need of blood," he said.
"They have been holding off surgery and transplants because there
is not enough blood available."
Starting Monday at 10 a.m. and continuing until 4:30 p.m. on
Thursday, students, staff and faculty will be able to donate blood
at the John Wooden Center racquetball courts. While walk-in
donations are welcome, students can also sign up for an appointment
by calling the SWC.
The Red Cross is attempting to collect more blood this year by
pitting UCLA donors against their crosstown rivals from USC.
Because blood supplies are depleted, the medical center has to
buy blood from the Red Cross in order to function. According to
Clark, the center buys about half the blood it uses.
"When people donate blood to the Red Cross, we have to buy it
back from them," he said.
"If only half the eligible students, staff and faculty on this
campus donated blood once a year, we would be self-sufficient," he
added.
The Red Cross blood drive is holding a "$5 program," which means
that they donate $5 to campus organizations for each person they
sign up for blood donation.
Student Welfare Commissioner Omid Shaye said another reason to
hold a SWC blood drive was the proximity to the Medical Center.
"When the Red Cross collects blood, by the time they take it to
the bank they can only use the red blood cells," he said.
The plasma and platelets, two other important components of
blood, go to waste this way, according to Shaye.
According to Clark, each component of a donor’s blood goes to a
different patient, so three people benefit from just one
donation.
"UCLA is a trauma center, and we use a lot of blood," Clark
said.
The red blood cells are used during transplants and surgery,
while platelets are vital for cancer patients who are undergoing
chemotherapy.
"By donating blood at UCLA, students are helping out someone
else. The purpose of the SWC is to help other students, and
donating blood is just one way to do this," said Yoram Kohanzadeh,
a first-year undeclared student. Kohanzadeh is helping coordinate
the blood drive.
Potential blood donors must weigh at least 110 pounds, be in
good health and must not have donated blood recently.
In addition, prospective donors must fill out questionnaires
about their health history. The questions are designed to screen
the blood for diseases such as Hepatitis, and HIV, the virus that
causes AIDS.
Donors are asked about intravenous drug use, sexual activity,
body piercings and travel history.
After giving blood, donors will receive a free T-shirt, a $5
food coupon for UCLA Restaurants and a chance to win a UCLA vs. USC
football ticket.
In addition, employees of Associated Students of UCLA and UCLA
will get a four-hour paid leave.
"We have 2,000 employees who have donated over a gallon of blood
each year," Clark said.
"This is something you can give back to the UCLA community and
it is also a social responsibility," he added.
Comments, feedback, problems?
© 1998 ASUCLA Communications Board[Home]