By Cathy Collette
Law students can localize blood donations by donating blood at the Phi Delta Phi blood drive, March 26, 2004.
BYU''s chapter of Phi Delta Phi, Sutherland Inn, is hosting the blood drive, through the Associated Regional University Pathologist Blood Services.
'We want to do as many blood drives as we can through ARUP,' said Jessica Woodbury, magister for Phi Delta Phi at BYU. 'The blood stays local and is used at Primary Children''s hospital.'
Woodbury said most blood drives on BYU''s campus are through the Red Cross, but Phi Delta Phi chooses to use ARUP because unlike the Red Cross, blood is given to Utah residents.
After talking to ARUP representatives at their last blood drive in January, Woodbury discovered the blood donated through Red Cross is shipped to locations outside of Utah.
'We thought it would be great to provide help for those locally,' she said.
Blood donated through ARUP is given to Primary Children''s Hospital, University Hospital, Huntsmen Cancer Institute and Shriner''s Children''s Hospital.
Many lifesaving treatments require blood transfusions.
Patients who usually require blood transfusions include cancer patients, leukemia patients, burn patients and premature babies.
Information posted on ARUP''s Web site states an estimated one in three people will need a blood product during a lifetime, but that of eligible donors, less than 4 percent choose to donate.
'There always tends to be a shortage,' said a representative at ARUP. 'We could always use people to donate blood.'
In order to donate blood, one must be 110 pounds, 17 years old or older, have a picture ID, and be free from colds. One should eat a good meal and drink plenty of fluids prior to donating.
Donors are asked to give a pint of blood. The procedure will take about 45 minutes.
The blood drive will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the third floor of the Law Building lounge.