Ads for spring break packages are tempting Ohio State students with promises of sun and fun, but after the holidays many students are realizing that they are strapped for cash.Plasma donation is a popular answer to this dilemma.Brent Heinisch, a sophomore in human ecology, started donating plasma this summer while waiting for his biweekly paycheck. “I needed some extra money for the weekend so I figured I’d give it a try,” Heinisch said.Jim Howell, the regional manager of Bio-Blood Components of Ohio, sees anywhere from 45 to 100 donors a day and says there are thousands of people who benefit from these donations.”Plasma is used for making intravenous injectile products for people who are transplant recipients, hemophiliacs in need of clotting factors and burn and shock victims,” Howell said.Howell said they try to actively pursue students to come in especially around spring break time when Bio-Blood sees an increase in patients.The procedure, which takes about two and a half hours on the first visit due to a physical and screening process and around an hour each time after, can be safely done up to two times in a seven day period. Donors receive $20 on their first visit and $35 on their second visit. At most facilities there are television sets near the donating stations that show movies.Heinisch, who said he’ll probably donate again before spring break, described the experience. “It wasn’t painful, but it was very uncomfortable because it’s a lengthy process. It was worth the money though, and I got to help someone out at the same time,” Heinisch said.Dr. Roger Miller, the assistant director for clinical services at the OSU Student Health Center, said that the risks for donors are pretty minimal.”The process is similar to blood donation except that they fully extract the plasma from your blood and they remove some of the factors that you can easily replace. After drinking and food you’re back to normal in a short period of time,” Miller said.”You’re achieving two things by doing this procedure. You’re helping yourself financially, and then you’re also helping people in need of the various pharmaceuticals that are made from the material,” Howell said.Miller said OSU does not offer the service because plasma donation involves expensive and difficult to manage equipment which is kept at a central location at various sites around town.