MC Family Can Demonstrate Caring Spirit by Participating in Campus Blood Drive Nov. 9-10
The holiday season is traditionally a time when people start thinking of ways to care for others, and Mississippi Blood Services is providing members of the Mississippi College family an opportunity to share one of the best presents ever – the gift of life.
The MBS donor coach will be on the Clinton campus from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, Nov. 9-10, to accept donations during the second of two fall blood drives at MC. All donors will receive a $10 Chick-fil-A gift card and an MBS T-shirt.
Tammy Bouchillon, MBS senior marketing representative, said the drive is the perfect way for MC faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends to show their fellow Mississippians how much they care.
“In Mississippi, hundreds of pints of blood are needed every day,” Bouchillon said. “That means your friends, your spouse, even you are a probable recipient of blood resources.
“Only 3 percent of Mississippians donate blood each year. Therefore, every pint counts.”
Every two seconds of every day, someone needs blood, whether women are experiencing complications during pregnancy and childbirth, children with severe anemia resulting from malnutrition, victims of accidents, or surgical and cancer patients, to name a few.
Blood cannot be manufactured outside the body and has a limited shelf life. Therefore, the supply must constantly be replenished by generous blood donors. Every blood donation provides strength, hope, and courage to patients and their families in local hospitals.
Bouchillon said individuals who donated whole blood during the last MBS blood drive at MC Sept. 14-15 are eligible to donate again. MC donors gave 50 units of blood during the September drive.
MBS personnel ensure that blood donation is safe and simple by conducting a “mini-physical” before each donation. They check each donor’s temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, and hemoglobin, and ask a series of questions to ensure everyone’s safety.
Valid photo identification is required to donate, and participants must weigh at least 110 pounds. All donors should eat within four hours of their appointment and should drink plenty of fluids before and after donating.
Participants are asked to make appointments online to avoid overcrowding during donations. Donors without online appointments will be accepted as soon as openings become available, but may be subject to longer wait times.
“Appointments are recommended to help us prepare for the number expected and to create a smooth donor flow with little or no wait time,” Bouchillon said.
To shorten the donation time, Bouchillon suggests donors complete a Donor History Questionnaire online on the day of donation – not before. The questionnaire is easily accessible from all mobile devices.
“With a scheduled appointment time and online preparation, the donation process is shorter than ever,” she said.
To register to donate on Nov. 9, click here. To register to donate on Nov. 10, click here.
For more information about the blood drive at MC or to find out how your organization could host an MBS blood drive, call Bouchillon at 601.573.4181 or email tbouchillon@msblood.com.
Sign-up For Our Newsletter
Get the latest news about Mississippi College delivered right to your inbox by subscribing to the Along College Street e-newsletter.
