Find a Blood Drive
Find a Blood Drive
The American Red Cross is calling all Kansas State University Wildcats to roll up their sleeves and help save a life by donating blood during the annual spring blood drive March 27-30.
Blood donated during the annual spring drive can help patients like the family of Cassi Friday, a Kansas State Behavioral Neurobiology researcher. Friday’s husband, 1st Lt. Anthony Friday and members of his family have hereditairy hemorrhagic telangiectasia, a disease that causes blood vessels to form irregularly.
In those diagnosed with HHT, malformed blood vessels can cause severe bleeding in the brain, lungs, liver and gastrointestinal tract. Smaller abnormalities occur in the mouth and nose. The most common symptom of HHT is a chronic nosebleed, occasionally becoming severe enough to require emergency blood transfusions. Anthony Friday’s mother and grandfather have received transfusions due to HHT.
“Recently, my 8-month-old daughter, Eleanor, was also diagnosed with HHT,” said Cassi Friday. “I know that some people with HHT cannot survive without regular transfusions. I’ve donated blood before, but knowing that my husband or child may need a transfusion at any time adds a sense of urgency to my donations.”
Giving blood is a simple way to put Kansas State’s spirit of service into action and help save lives. For Cassi Friday, donating blood has become very personal. She concludes, “I urge my fellow Wildcats to donate during this drive to help patients who need blood. For me, giving blood is no longer just about helping other people who need blood. It is about helping my family, too!”
Kansas State University spring blood drive:
March 27-29, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Student Union Ballroom, 2nd floor
March 28-30, from 1 to 7 p.m. at Putnam Hall Lobby
March 30, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Student Union Ballroom
To make an appointment, download the Red Cross Blood Donor app, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800 RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) and use sponsor code kstate.
Organizers hope to collect 600 pints of blood during the four-day blood drive. All who come out to donate will receive a coupon for a free appetizer from Texas Roadhouse.
The Kansas State blood drive selfie contest is also back again. To participate, simply post a selfie while donating and tag @KSUBloodDrive and @texasroadhouse to be entered to win one of 20 free entrees from Texas Roadhouse.
Right now, the Red Cross has a critical need for type O negative blood donors. Because it is the universal blood type and can be transfused to patients of any blood type, type O negative blood is what emergency room personnel reach for when there is no time to determine the blood type of patients in the most serious situations.
How to donate blood
All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
Blood donors can now save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, prior to arriving at the blood drive. To get started and learn more, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
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