BYU–Hawaii students were given the opportunity to save a life during their busy class schedule by donating to the Blood Bank of Hawaii, which hosted a mobile blood drive station on campus.
The Blood Bank of Hawaii has been holding blood drives on campus regularly and the blood donated provides life-saving blood products to 17 civilian hospitals statewide, according to their website bbh.org.
Hosted in the Aloha Center Ballroom, the Blood Bank of Hawaii upheld high standards in their blood drive. With the ballroom air-conditioned and in quiet order with light refreshments donors were provided with a calm and safe environment.It was some donors’ first time donating blood.
This included Alexi Shirley, a junior elementary and special education major from Texas. “I was expecting it to take a long time but it actually went really fast and they were good. They talked you through everything and told you what to expect and made sure you were feeling okay the whole time so it was great,” said Shirley.
Shirley’s reason to donate stemmed from a previous experience in high school. “In high school, I was always under the weight limit so I couldn't give blood. But now I’ve reached it, and I’m finally able to give blood, so I was like ‘why not save lives?’”
The importance of blood donation remains paramount. The donated blood is used by patients for surgical procedures, treatment of accident victims, ulcers, anemia, childbirth, and in some cases cancer.
About 200 blood donors are needed every day to help meet the needs of Hawaii's patients, but as of 2014, only two percent of the population donates and 60 percent of Hawaii residents will need a blood transfusion at some time in their lives, the Blood Bank’s website stated.
Alexys Jollen, junior exercise and sports science major from Washington, donates often and does so because she knows her blood can save someone else. She shares, “They call me a lot, because the normal Polynesian blood type is O+ and that’s what I have. If we’re all healthy and we have enough blood, I think we should help other people who are in need.”
Mark Arakawa, a medical professional working in The Blood Bank of Hawaii and the team leader for the blood drive, stated, “We are the only blood center on the island that supplies blood to all the island hospitals. With our many blood drives, we are busy and we work with 150-200 units of blood per day.”
Arakawa also said that the Blood Bank comes to BYUH more often now. “We do it every month or every other month and the turnout is really good. BYUH is always good. Today we had 51 appointments and I don't usually see any less than that. So it’s a big turnout. If any one wants to donate, they are more than welcome to come,” added Arakawa.
For those who are interested in donating blood to the Blood Bank of Hawaii visit their website at www.bbh.org for upcoming locations and donation centers.