The American Red Cross was out for blood Monday the Schottenstein Center Monday for its summer donation blood drive. Between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. 126 donors came to give a pint of blood each to help patients in need, said Shannon Niemeyer, donor recruitment representative for Ohio State.
Volunteers at the blood drive were expecting a lot more.
"We were hoping for at least 220 pints of blood. There's a higher demand during the summer due to an increase in auto accidents and such," said Patti Kenehan, a Red Cross volunteer.
Catherine West, a Red Cross spokeswoman, said every two seconds someone in the United States needs a blood transfusion.
The Ohio State University Medical Center uses about 65,000 transfusion products each year alone, West said.
There is usually a larger turnout, but because this drive was held in late summer, more people are out of town and unable to attend, Kenehan said.
"This isn't the only drive this summer that hasn't gone well," West said.
The Red Cross' goal for central Ohio blood demand is to collect 16,000 pints per month. In July, they collected only 15,800 pints.
The American Red Cross Central Ohio Blood Services Region met its monthly collection goal only twice this year so far.
"More and more people are going on vacations and not donating when they normally would," West said. "More accidents are occurring on those vacations."
Although it takes five to seven minutes for the heart to fill a plastic bag with a pint of blood, the whole process takes about an hour. Before donating, donors go through a health history mini-physical where they can find out their blood type.
"People need to know what kind of blood they have, which comes in handy if you're ever in an accident," Kenehan said.
Donors can also receive a certified Red Cross blood-type card after donating.
Sam Peterson, a graduate student in law, said he has been donating blood since he was in high school. He donated his eighth pint yesterday morning.
"Most people say they would feel queasy if they gave blood, but once you do it, you realize it's not so bad," Peterson said. "I've never wanted to watch them stick the needle in though."
Peterson's blood, along with the rest of the day's donations, can be used in three ways. The same pint of blood can produce red blood cells for trauma victims, blood platelets for cancer patients, and plasma used by shock and burn victims.
"Blood utilization seems to be high," West said. "Blood is a big part of any kind of treatment."
The Red Cross is looking for donors of every demographic, but the most important group to the Red Cross is college students, West said.
"Sometimes it's hard for students to contribute financially," West said "Donating blood is free and it only takes an hour."
