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Show Wednesday, November 1, 2000 THE SIGNPOST Page 15 1 I v-. ";. ji.-r' ' - : r' J " f -s L- i- - - . fe -X J. Communication majors collect for charity By Jill Steed news writer I 1 Jason Crozier, a phlebotomist, draws blood from WSU student Doug Durrant. Durrant thought he would donate blood because he felt it was the right thing to do on Halloween. USD HO iQDGd W3DQQG" By Kristin Bune news writer The Signpost The United States faces a serious blood supply shortage because the number of blood donors is down and the number of people requiring transfusions is expected to rise as Americans live longer. Weber State University is help- . ing solve this growing problem by sponsoring several blood drives. A blood drive was held Tuesday in the SheDherd Union Buildin2. "It gives students a chance to icifte an acuvc i uic in ucipin ictvc lives across the country. Josh Pulido said, member of the health professions area counsel. . Although Utah is not experienc-, . ing a severe shortage of blood, there isn't any extra. All WSU students are encouraged to donate. and reminded that all blood types are needed. To give blood, students must be weigh at least 110 pounds. Persons who are older than 65 and in good health may usually donate with the approval of the blood bank physician. Pulido said giving blood is very safe. "Each needle used in the procedure is sterile and is disposed of after a single use," he said. Improved donor screening has reduced the risk of contaminated blood. Dr. Mark Baxter of the Ogden Clinic hopes data confirming the safety of the blood supply will encourage people to donate blood. "Donating blood is important because there is no substitute for human blood." he said. While approximately 50 percent of the population is eligible to donate blood, only about 5 percent do so. O positive and A positive are the most common blood types and arc most often needed. Because O negative is the universal donor, this blood type is frequently needed. AB negative is the most rare blood type, with a fre- WIS "It gives students a chance to take an active role in helping save lives across the country' -Josh Pulido, member of the health professions area counsel quency of one in 100. The average adult has eight to 10 pints of blood. After a donation, a person's blood volume begins replacing itself within hours. When separated into components, one unit of whole blood can save up to three people. Whole blood has a shelf life of 42 days. Before blood is given to a patient in need, 10 tests are performed on the blood to ensure the patient's safety. Students in good health can donate a unit of blood as often as every eight weeks. Students can also donate at community blood centers and hospital-based donor centers. The next blood drive is Nov. 13. The Signpost Traditionally, this is the time of year when communities rally around service projects for the needy. Four students in Colleen Garside's communication 1050 class are doingjust that. They are helping out the homeless this year by promoting a winter blanket and coat charity drive. According to Haylee Foster, a Weber State University junior, the class has been assigned to provide a charitable service this semester. Foster's group plans on providing the St. Anne's Homeless Shelter in Ogden with blankets and coats for those in need this winter. The group plans to hold a raffle at the Nov. 1 1 WSU football game. Those who bring a coat or blanket for charity will be given a raffle ticket and will be eligible to win prizes in a drawing to be held during halftime. Haylee Foster, Yoko Kimura, James Bemel and Keeley Hages, members of the communication 1050 class, will conduct the raffle and drawing. "We want everyone who attends the game to participate in this good cause," Foster said. "We are looking for blankets and coats for men, women and children of all ages. The grand prize consists of a one-night stay at the Alaskan Inn, dinner for two at the Timberlodge Steakhouse and two free movie tickets. The prize for second place includes a Sony Walkman. Plans for the third prize are still in the works. More information on the charity drive will be announced at the Nov. 4 football game and on the campus radio station. Fliers will also be circulated around campus within the next couple of weeks. For more information on the drive, you can contact Haylee Foster via e-mail at fosterspubearthlink.net. drew barrymore bill murray cameron diaz . GifFi"! 3)- Mliill'f : iiT! IPG 13 mtj tmoaY oiawcau : j m 1 1 J Pf "M1 ll"V V IP Oil.. M 111 tb) ..llfi! it get-some-action.com NOVEMBER illlialiji COLUMBIA p PICTURES.' ALL REGULAR PRICED ADULT SIZED T-SHIRTS Weber State University SALE RUNS NOV 1st-15th weber. ediibookstore |