Delaware Tech students save lives by donating blood
(Photo by L. Conner) Delaware Tech student Jack Cheney (right) and his friend after donating blood.
By Lydia Conner
Delaware Technical Community College, Owens Campus, hosted a blood drive in the gymnasium in October.
Lashawnda Piper, a blood drive receptionist, said the turnout for the event was better than first expected. As the blood drive came to a close, Piper and her peers ended up asking walk-in’s to keep an eye out for the next blood drive, since they had reached capacity of donors for that day.
“At first we didn’t really have very many people on our sign-up sheet, but as the day progressed, we had more than enough people show up to give blood,” Piper said.
Piper also gave some words of advice for those considering participating in a blood drive.
“I would definitely donate, because not only does it save lives, but it’s actually easier for you to get blood if you’ve ever donated since your information is already in the system,” Piper said. “You never know when you might be on the receiving end and need blood yourself.”
Ashley Keith, president of the Medical Laboratory Technicians associations club, donated for her first time at the blood drive and said there is a list of criteria for someone to be able to donate.
“If you actually fall into the criteria, you should at least try,” she said.
Keith said in order to donate, a person must be between the ages of 18 and 76, and be at least 110 pounds. She also said the person must have had no tattoos, piercings, or surgeries in the past year. “I think it’s pretty important that if you’re able to donate blood, you do,” said Keith. “Every donation saves three lives.”
Jack Cheney, a Turf Management major at Delaware Tech, said this blood drive was his first time donating.
“It’s pretty important to donate because you’re kind of giving back,” Cheney said.
“I think if five minutes of your time can save someone’s life, then it’s definitely worth it.”
The next blood drives to be held in Georgetown will be on November 23, and December 29 at the Georgetown CHEER Community center. More information can be found at https://www.delmarvablood.org/.
(Photo by L. Conner) Donors mingle and relax after donating blood during the blood drive.
(Photo by L. Conner) Delaware Technical Community College Owens Campus hosted a blood drive in October.