Crowder hosts third annual blood drive

Carrie Townsend draws blood from Tammy Johnson at the Crowder blood drive Wednesday. Photo by Gloria Tucker/Daily Mail

Nevada Daily Mail

Crowder nursing program hosted the American Red Cross blood drive for the fourth year Wednesday.

"This year our goal is 45 units of blood," blood drive organizer Dan Boatwright said. "Last year our goal was 35 units, and we gathered 52 units. We had to turn people away."

Crowder nursing students Eric Blanchare and Ashley Cox work the check in station at the Crowder blood drive Wednesday.

Nursing program coordinator Heather VanLue said the blood drive is one of the service projects the nursing students help with every year.

"Our students are helping with check ins, the canteen and guiding donors to stations," VanLue said. "We have 152 students enrolled in our nursing program and will be accepting applications through Feb. 15."

The Red Cross brought its apheresis machine to the college which collects double units of red cells.

"The machine separates platelets and plasma from the blood and gives them as well as saline back to the donor," technician Lisa Scales said. "The person doesn't lose any volume, and we get two units of red cells."

Scales said certain requirements must be met in order to use the machine. Only people with blood types O-, O+, A- and B- can donate. A woman has to weigh at least 175 pounds and be 5 foot 5 inches tall. A man has to weigh at least 150 pounds and be 5 foot 1 inches tall. Both will have to have a higher iron count.

"This blood can be used 48 hours after its donated," she said. "It's already been processed. Whole blood has to be sent to the lab so takes longer before it can be used. This has a shelf life of 25 days. Whole blood has a shelf life of 46 days."

"One unit of blood saves up to three lives," Boatwright added.