People flowed in as fast the blood hit the bags on Tuesday, Oct. 15th and Wednesday, Oct. 16th at the American Red Cross Blood Drive here at Plymouth State University. A total of 150 people donated blood over the two days totaling to about 450 saved lives. Students, faculty and neighbors filed in the registration room organized by volunteers who already had a list of donor appointments.
But who needs blood? According to the America Red Cross, to meet the need for blood in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont, they must collect more than 500,000 voluntary blood donations a year. The blood components and derivatives manufactured from the blood donated are sent to more than 200 hospitals in New England. These donations could help save the life of a patient with cancer, heart disease, gastrointestinal disease, anemia, fractures, trauma, bone and joint disease, liver, kidney and lung disease, or other serious medical conditions.
In order to donate blood you must meet certain requirements including height, weight, and age. However there is a longer list for health and lifestyle conditions that can disqualify you as a donor. One disqualifying lifestyles choice is if you’re a male who has had sexual relations with another male or if you’re a female who has had sexual relations with a man who has had a sex with another male even once.
According to the Huffington Post, “The FDA says it’s policy is not intended as a judgment on donors’ sexual orientation, and instead is based on the documented risk of blood infections, such as HIV, associated with male-to-male sex”. The FDA implemented the ban in 1983 when the risk of contracting AIDS through blood transfusions was recognized. The Huffington Post explains, “The FDA is not homophobic-they are risk-averse”. Many of the workers from the American Red Cross do not fully understand this issue and constantly have to watch as healthy donors walked away due to this rejection.
This has been a big issue for many years. At UNH there have been protests outside of the room where the American Red Cross holds blood drives. Plymouth State University displayed their disapproval of the ban by posting a sign stating, “The Plymouth State University Student Senate does not support the FDA’s discrimination policy banning homosexual men from donating blood.” The U.S. gay-rights movement has accomplished so much thus far so hopes are held high to alleviate this ban.
Saving lives is the main focus of the American Red Cross and workers seemed pleased so see so many people at this year’s blood drive. Walk-ins donated for many different reasons. Some people just felt like they should if they’re able to, while others had more complex reasons. “Besides the fact that one pint of blood can save the life of three babies when needed, I just like the satisfaction of giving back whether it’s by volunteering or donating blood”, admitted first-year student, Devon Smith, “I basically just like donating to people whether it’s hair, blood or time.”
Robyn Footit, also a first-year student here at PSU, was at the blood drive for a different reason, she was there to give thanks. “My mom had breast cancer and she needed a blood transfusion so I just want to do what someone did for her, for someone else”. No matter what the reason for donating was, it was amazing to see so many people not only donate blood but their time as well.