2008 Woodie Awards
In Cold Blood
Eduardo Morán
Issue date: 10/26/05 Section: News
Valley College's Pre-medical Engineering and Science and Scholar's Association will host its first annual blood drive in the North Gym Nov. 1.
"Usually [the student health center] does the blood drive on our own," said physician assistant Sonia B. Nodal. 'This time we involved P.E.S.S.A. and the biology department and that's what gave us the greatest support."
Though the Student Health Center has sponsored previous drives this is the first time outside groups, such as, P.E.S.S.A. has participated. More than 100 students and faculty have already signed up for the upcoming blood drive compared to half as many in previous drives, making it the largest planned donation Valley has ever had, according to P.E.S.S.A. president Lisa Foltz.
To be eligible to donate, a male or female donor must weigh at least 110 pounds, be at least 17 years of age and provide a photo ID to verify the donor's age. Most medications are OK except Accutane or antibiotics for infection. Pregnant donors cannot give blood. Anyone that received a tattoo in the last 12 months in California or another state that doesn't regulate tattoo parlors or that's had any body piercing in the last 12 months without using a sterile single use needle cannot give blood either.
60 percent of the U.S. population can donate blood but only 5 percent do, according to the American Red Cross and the two most common reasons why people don't donate blood is that they "never thought about it" and because people "don't like needles."
"I never need a reason to help people," said 21-year-old Emile Tolon, a nursing major. "That's why I love to donate blood. Some places buy your blood, but I don't expect anything in return."
The donor sign-up is so successful that a second blood drive is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 1. For now, P.E.S.S.A.'s goal is to get 300 people to sign up for the Nov. 1 drive.
Although appointments are preferred, walk-ins are still welcome. Students can contact the student health center at (818) 947-2918 to schedule an appointment or go online to www.givelife.org and enter sponsor code: lavc.
"Usually [the student health center] does the blood drive on our own," said physician assistant Sonia B. Nodal. 'This time we involved P.E.S.S.A. and the biology department and that's what gave us the greatest support."
Though the Student Health Center has sponsored previous drives this is the first time outside groups, such as, P.E.S.S.A. has participated. More than 100 students and faculty have already signed up for the upcoming blood drive compared to half as many in previous drives, making it the largest planned donation Valley has ever had, according to P.E.S.S.A. president Lisa Foltz.
To be eligible to donate, a male or female donor must weigh at least 110 pounds, be at least 17 years of age and provide a photo ID to verify the donor's age. Most medications are OK except Accutane or antibiotics for infection. Pregnant donors cannot give blood. Anyone that received a tattoo in the last 12 months in California or another state that doesn't regulate tattoo parlors or that's had any body piercing in the last 12 months without using a sterile single use needle cannot give blood either.
60 percent of the U.S. population can donate blood but only 5 percent do, according to the American Red Cross and the two most common reasons why people don't donate blood is that they "never thought about it" and because people "don't like needles."
"I never need a reason to help people," said 21-year-old Emile Tolon, a nursing major. "That's why I love to donate blood. Some places buy your blood, but I don't expect anything in return."
The donor sign-up is so successful that a second blood drive is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 1. For now, P.E.S.S.A.'s goal is to get 300 people to sign up for the Nov. 1 drive.
Although appointments are preferred, walk-ins are still welcome. Students can contact the student health center at (818) 947-2918 to schedule an appointment or go online to www.givelife.org and enter sponsor code: lavc.
