by Kendra Germany
Staff writer
Southeastern and East Central University competed in a “Blood Battle” blood drive competition on Sept. 12-13.
According to Justin Boissenin, Oklahoma Blood Institute administrative operations coordinator, ECU won the competition with a total of 236 registered and 202 successful donations.
SE was not far behind with a total of 180 registered and 158 successful donations.
ECU might have won the competition, but according to OBI Program Consultant Michelle McGuire, over 1,000 lives were potentially saved by the donations made during this event alone.
According to Boissenin, one in three people will need blood during their lifetime.
“Although an estimated 38 percent of the U.S. population is eligible to donate blood at any given time, less than 10 percent do so annually,” Boissenin said.
McGuire emphasized that there is always a need for blood right here in Oklahoma.
“It is important to give blood because the need for blood is constant, 365 days a year,” said McGuire. “OBI supplies the blood to local hospitals. Without blood donors, we could not support the mission of saving lives.”
According to McGuire, giving blood is a rewarding process.
“It only takes an hour to donate, and you save three lives when you donate blood,” McGuire said.
The next SE blood drive is scheduled for Nov.14 and 15.
For more information, visit http://www.obi.org.
Staff photos by Stacy Hutto
Crystal Mills, a counseling graduate student, donating blood during the SE vs ECU Blood Battle.
A sign in front of the Glen D. Johnson Student Union points the way for people wanting to donate blood.
