by April Hale
Daily Lobo
Eager donors filled the lines for the chance to donate blood - a valuable asset more appreciated in recent times.
The fifth annual campus-wide blood drive, sponsored by the United Blood Services in conjunction with UNM's General Library, was organized at three different areas around campus to give students every chance to help stockpile the local emergency blood supply.
According to Nancy Troutman, the United Blood Services community relation's representative, this year's blood drive was an absolute success.
"We appreciate every pint we get," she said.
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Jan Dodson Barnhart, UNM's general library program manager, said the library receives $3 per donor but that it is more of a community service effort.
"The United Blood Services needs blood, especially during the holiday season," Barnhart said. "It's a hard time to get blood."
The blood drive has produced 1,000 pints of blood over the past five years. This year's goal was to get 250 pints of blood.
Barnhart said on college campuses they often have to reject a lot of people because of tattoos, piercings and diseases. A list of blood donor qualifications, donation information and a questionnaire are handed out to donors at each location.
"There's always a large need for blood, and cold and flu season started early," Troutman said. "Some people that wanted to donate can't now because they're sick. That's where other people need to step up."
Barnhart said that this year's turnout was a mixture of male and female donors.
"What's interesting is that there are usually more female student donors than males," Barnhart said. "Females may be more concerned, maybe it's their nurturing nature, but it's been the trend."
The donation process takes about 45 minutes to an hour. There are three distinct steps - a pre-interview, an interview and then the actual donation.
"Whenever I see a blood drive I tend to stop and donate," said Trish Rogers, a UNM business major. "It's a simple way to help people. It's painless and it's only a few minutes to give back to the community."
Only five percent of eligible donors actually donate, Troutman said.
"Recruiting donors is a challenge," she said. "That's why so many in the community have to help out."
Both sponsors expressed deep appreciation to the students, faculty and staff.
"The drive is making people more aware that it's not harmful to them to give blood," Rogers said. "You can't get diseases by giving blood, you can only give someone a chance at life."
