Donors took an hour out of their day and 16 ounces of blood out of their bodies to give service by participating in the blood drive held by The Blood Bank of Hawaii in the Aloha Center Ballroom on Thursday, June 4. The drive went from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and was provided for students, staff, and faculty to donate a pint of blood towards those suffering from various illnesses.
Several students and community members made donations of blood and time. “It’s something I do whenever I can,” said Marvin Cravens, a senior studying political science from Laie. “It’s a way to give back to the community. People need blood; it’s something I can give. I’m not talented in many areas, but I got blood.”
Cravens said he has donated several times and even in places such as California and Utah. He also encouraged people to come and donate. “It’s nothing worse than a charlie horse,” he said. “It’s something that could save peoples lives.”
Mark Arakawa, a team leader for the blood drive, said those who donate blood make a big impact on a lot of people. “If you’ve ever been on the receiving end of it, or if you’ve ever known anyone close to you that’s needed blood, it makes even more of an impact.”
He shared the many benefits that come from donating blood. “The blood can be broken down into different components and those different components can help people who are dealing with cancer, people who have blood-clotting issues, people who are going to surgery, coming out of surgery, people in trauma situations and in the E.R., people who have genetic problems who don’t produce their own blood efficiently enough.”
These are just a few of the uses that donated blood affords, according to Arakawa.
“The process to donate takes about an hour,” said Rhonda Stewart, a registrar for the Blood Bank of Hawaii. “It includes paper registration and a physical examination.” Stewart shared this “mini-physical” involves measuring a persons’ temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and even the iron level in a drop of blood taken from the finger of the would-be donor.
A questionnaire is given to find out if it is safe for the donor to donate, and if the blood is safe for a patient to receive. Stewart gave several suggestions of how to prepare for the donation. “We suggest that the person eat a hardy meal before they come in, be well rested, and drink lots of fluids for 24 hours previous to coming in,” she said. She encouraged all who can to donate.
Shemaina Jory Miller, a senior from California studying peace building, said she was excited at the chance to donate blood. “I feel like you’re supposed to give everything you have, right? So why not blood?” she said.
Jory Miller also said it was her first time giving blood. “I don’t know why it’s taken me this long. I just think it’s cool that you can give something so literal of yourself to somebody else.”
She told how, for her, not knowing whom you are helping and how you are helping them is the beauty of donating.
There are people who are not as excited about giving blood, like Man Yu Wu. “Only if I really have to, I’m ok with that,” Man Yu, a senior in business management from Hong Kong, said. “But the needles—that’s what I’m scared of.”
He shared he would be willing to donate blood to a family member with an injury or illness, but his dislike for needles kept him away from the blood drive.
Arakawa and others still encourage people to come out and donate. “Actually,” he said, “it doesn’t hurt all that much. If there’s any pain, it just last for seconds and it quickly dissipates.”
Arakawa said that those who wish to donate and learn more can visit the Blood Bank of Hawaii website at www.bbh.org.