The first of four University-wide blood drives this academic year will be held Sept. 15 at nine locations throughout the Danforth and Medical campuses.
All students, staff and faculty members are encouraged to participate in this effort to replenish the region’s blood supply.
Why donate blood? According to the American Red Cross, each year more than 4.5 million American lives are saved by blood transfusions. Every two seconds, someone in America needs blood. One in three people will need a blood transfusion in their lifetimes, and there is no substitute for human blood.
“One hour of your time as a blood donor can save up to three lives,” said Stephanie Kurtzman, director of the Community Service Office and associate director of the Richard A. Gephardt Institute for Public Service.
The annual drives are quite effective. During the 2008-09 academic year, 1,845 productive units of blood were donated, compared with 609 in the 2006-07 academic year.
To donate, sign up on online at communityservice.wustl.edu/bd. There you can also view a complete schedule with times and locations and sign up to be a volunteer at the drive.
The drive is sponsored by the Community Service Office in collaboration with the American Red Cross and Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center.
Future blood drives are scheduled for Nov. 11; Jan. 26, 2010; and March 31, 2010.